Strong Leaders Grow Social Capital

Lately, there’s been a lot of conversation about the breakdown of community—social clubs disappearing, fewer deep connections, and a decline in real social capital. This isn’t just a societal issue; it’s a leadership issue too. 

Two podcasts, that I love, recently explored this: Trevor Noah’s What Now? and Radical Candor. They discussed how we can rebuild “social capital” and why it matters. Robert Putnam defines social capital in two ways:

• Bonded Social Capital – Connections with like-minded peers, friends, colleagues

• Bridging Social Capital – Reaching beyond our circles to different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.

Leaders need both. Bonded capital strengthens your expertise and support system. Bridging capital? That’s where innovation, collaboration, and career growth happen.

In my coaching, I engage with leaders around these topics all the time: 

• For team engagement – Stronger relationships drive trust and performance.

• For cross-functional success – Break silos by proactively building connections across teams.

• For career growth – The best opportunities often come from outside your usual circle.

The challenge? Too often, we stick to what’s comfortable. But great leadership—and real impact—happens when we reach out.

So, who’s one person outside your usual circle you can connect with this week?

#Leadershipcoaching #executivecoach #SocialCapital #Networking #TeamEngagement