Relationships and People Skills Becoming More Important in Business Success

Jurgens, whose company has been recognized by Michigan Celebrates Small Business with a Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Award – Strategically Focused, encourages business owners to take a step back from day-to-day tasks and focus on the bigger picture. She says leaders should regularly identify organizational bottlenecks, clarify priorities, and ensure their teams remain aligned around a shared vision.

At the center of her approach is the belief that sustainable growth requires strong leadership and effective communication. As businesses scale, leaders must be willing to delegate responsibilities while maintaining a consistent cadence of communication with employees to keep everyone moving in the same direction.

The conversation also explores the increasing importance of human connection in an increasingly digital and automated business environment. While technology continues to transform how companies operate, Jurgens believes relationships, networking, and interpersonal skills are becoming even more valuable.

“It’s going to become more and more important that we have relationships and people skills in order to actually do great business and great work for people,” Jurgens says.

She notes that interest in relationship-building is growing across generations, including among younger professionals who recognize the value of learning how to network, connect with others, and build meaningful business partnerships.

As technology continues to evolve, Jurgens encourages business owners to embrace innovation while remembering that long-term success is built on trust, communication, and strong human relationships.

Listen to The Small Business Weekly Podcast Episode 537 to hear the full conversation with Jennifer Jurgens.

About the Small Business Weekly Podcast

The Small Business Weekly Podcast, presented by the Small Business Association of Michigan, delivers a new interview with an entrepreneurial expert each week – featuring practical advice and success stories designed to support and inspire Michigan’s small business community.