Long-term success in your business, or just in your career in general, hinges on building strong, long-lasting professional relationships.
While this might sound obvious and even easy, it requires more than just exchanging business cards and sending the occasional email. Building professional relationships requires thought and intentionality. If you want to create professional connections that will actually serve you in the future, here are some strategies to consider.
Invest in Trust
Trust is the foundation of any strong relationship, and professional ones are no exception. As soon as you start working with someone new, focus on building trust by being transparent, honest, and consistent in how you communicate.
Actively listen to the people you’re talking to and show that you can be relied on by following through on promises and agreements – even if it’s just to pop them an email! If you want to learn more about how to turn a good business relationship into a great one through building trust and other strategies, click here.
Use Digital Tools for Communication
Lucky for us, it’s now simple and basically free to stay connected to just about everyone we meet. This makes managing business relationships far easier! LinkedIn, Zoom, and even collaborative platforms like Slack can help you interact and communicate intentionally.
Use digital tools to connect with other professionals you meet and work with, but take it beyond the day-to-day tasks you have to discuss. Acknowledge career milestones, send a happy birthday message, and show a genuine interest in their lives beyond work.
Thoughtful touches like this will go a long way in building a real relationship with people who might be able to lift you up in the future.
Offer Value Without an Exchange
So much of business is transactional. Stepping away from that expectation is a great way to separate yourself from the crowd and help you build strong professional connections.
Use the connection to provide value without any expectation for something in return. This could look like sharing valuable and informative content on social media, offering support for someone looking for a new job, or providing feedback and guidance on work that someone has done. Whatever it might be, offer it with a smile and no expectation of reciprocation.
Follow Up and Stay in Touch
It’s easy to meet someone, shake their hand, grab their business card, and then forget about them. However, keeping that relationship alive might really work in your favor when you least expect it.
Treat your professional network like you would treat clients and customers in a CRM system. Set reminders to follow up with them periodically.
You could congratulate them on an achievement, let them know about an opportunity you thought they might be a good fit for, or just check in to see how they’re doing.
Genuine, meaningful interactions like these are what build the kinds of relationships that will last, and the effort will pay off in the long term.
