How Relationship Skills Drive Career Transitions and Leadership Impact

consultforgrowth
Jun 25
3 min read

by Liina Fadaee, Executive Coach | Founder, Consult For Growth

When people ask me what sparked my interest in leadership development and executive coaching, I often reflect on a decision I made early in my career, one that has shaped everything since.

At the time, I was completing my thesis in international business and considering which topic would best set me up for a successful future. I was looking for something universal. Something that would hold regardless of the country, industry, job title, or seniority level.

I landed on one core idea: The ability to build and nurture valuable relationships is the foundation of great leadership.

My thesis explored how suppliers can develop meaningful relationships with key clients, viewed through the lens of role clarity, trust, accountability, and mutual value.

It might have been about key account managers on paper, but in reality, it was a study in human behaviour, influence, and connection.

Even back then, it was clear to me:

It doesn’t matter what you do or where you work, your ability to communicate, listen, and earn trust will define the trajectory of your career.

Fast-forward to Today: The Skills That Still Matter

Throughout my coaching career, especially in the career transition space, one pattern has remained constant: technical skills open doors, but it’s relationships that shape what happens next.

I’ve worked with countless professionals navigating pivotal moments, redundancies, promotions, leadership shifts, or complete reinvention. And time and time again, the differentiator isn’t just capability. It’s connection.

Clients often arrive with strong experience, clear goals, and a solid track record. But what’s missing is the strategic network, the stakeholder alignment, or the ability to communicate their value with clarity and confidence. Without those things, even the most qualified professionals can remain overlooked.

When you're in transition, people don’t just hire your CV, they hire your presence, your reputation, and your ability to build trust quickly.

The clients who accelerate their careers are the ones who invest in relationships before they need them. They develop credibility across functions, nurture mentors and sponsors, and position themselves in rooms where opportunities are shaped.

Whether you’re stepping into leadership, changing direction, or repositioning after a setback, your ability to lead through relationships will define the impact and momentum of your next move.

A Career Built on Connection

In hindsight, the path I’ve followed has consistently reinforced this belief. The majority of my career has been spent building strategic partnerships, developing collaborative stakeholder relationships, and nurturing high-trust networks.

The ability to do this, consistently and well, has directly accelerated business growth and leadership outcomes in every context I’ve worked in.

From launching national programs and supporting skilled migrants into employment, to leading global partnerships and coaching professionals through career change, the common thread has always been human connection. And in coaching, that matters.

The ability to build trust quickly, understand what’s not being said, and create space for real reflection has shaped how I work with every client.

Relationship skills aren’t just essential for leadership, they’re at the heart of every impactful coaching conversation. When we focus on connection first, growth naturally follows.

From Research to Real Results

That thesis is now over 15 years old, but the principles have never been more relevant.

They’ve shaped the foundations of the Executive Growth Journey™, our flagship coaching framework here at Consult For Growth.

Today, we coach professionals to:

Navigate leadership and career transitions with clarity.
Build trusted relationships that sustain long-term influence.
Communicate their value with strategic presence and confidence.
Lead with authenticity, not performance.

Great leadership is not about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the most trusted.

Final Thoughts

The world of work has changed, but the skills that matter most have not.

Relationship-building. Strategic communication. Trust. Influence. These aren’t peripheral competencies. They are the core drivers of long-term career success and leadership sustainability.

And if there’s one lesson I’d offer to any ambitious professional, it’s this: