Episode 123: Your Next Ally Is Not Like You

Do you have to like someone to trust them at work? Drawing on Adam Grant’s Vibe, Maya and Marcus sort connections into four kinds — associates, allies, pals, and companions — and show why sponsorship lives mostly in allies and companions, why asking one person to be all four is an impossible task, and why a relationship that feels strong can still disappoint when the kinds mismatch or the wavelengths drift. Four steps close it out: map your four, engineer proximity, ask one real question, and name the shared goal out loud. This show is written and produced by Joe Dutkiewicz of Crayon Leadership. Joe equips mid-senior leaders to think and act two levels up, so they’re recognizable to top leaders and ready for the promotion before it opens. Find Joe on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, and at the Crayon Leadership website. Maya and Marcus are AI voices, created with text-to-speech.