Jack Welch

Founder, Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University; Former CEO, General Electric

This post originally appeared on LinkedIn. Follow Jack Welch's Influencer posts here.

With all the finger-pointing and name-calling going on in Washington these days, it's hard to believe a delegation of kindergarten teachers from Dubuque hasn't arrived to put an end to the nonsense. But no. The blame game goes on and on and the government stays shuttered.

And meanwhile, the people watching the story play out -- and, we would say, especially leaders in business -- might be missing the most important lesson of it all.

You have to schmooze.

Clarification: You have to schmooze early and often. You can't suddenly burst out of your office to build relationships when you hear rumbles of trouble from down below, and it's certainly too late by the time a crisis flares. No, schmoozing has to be what you do all the time as a leader; it has to be a massive part of your job. Walking around, having a coffee, sitting and listening, getting real, letting people get real with you. Showing who you are, what you care about, exposing your hopes and dreams and values. Asking people the same about themselves.

Building -- in two big fat words -- trust and transparency.

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