By any measure, business success is no longer solely about hard work, good intentions, and technical expertise. Relationship building, communication, and the ability to forge cooperation across organizational lines are key--especially when operating across borders, spanning time zones, and crossing cultures.

In their new book, The Relationship Advantage: Become a Trusted Advisor and Create Clients for Life, consulting experts Tom Stevenson and Sam Barcus urge executives to concentrate on trust and share their insights into building it, sustaining it, translating it into profitable customer relationships.

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A company’s workforce is its most valuable asset. It is the employees who translate an organization’s strategy into reality, who interact with consumers and who determine the corporate brand.