The learning never stops as you climb the ranks of corporate leadership. You acquire the technical skills and industry insights necessary to stay ahead of the game. And they just require refresher courses now and then to keep your saw sharpened. But the higher up the ranks you ascend, the demand for technical acumen makes way for the increased need to broaden and deepen your people skills. Those lessons never seem to end.

It’s trendy these days to talk about corporate culture.  What’s not to love about corporate culture – assuming it’s a positive, healthy one? Employees working and playing harmoniously with each other. Referring your company to their friends when you have positions open.

I’m often asked what the critical components are to the kind of extraordinary partnership that I have with my chief people officer. I have to say there is indeed a bit of luck, chemistry, and magic to our rapport. But there are some aspects to our relationship that are absolutely replicable – assuming both partners are willing participants in the adventure. I’ve unpacked them for you here.