What is a word for relationship building

Relationship building is crucial to your long-term success. If you know how to effectively build bonds, you will have more productive and enjoyable personal relationships and workplace relationships.

It is rare to immediately master all the soft skills needed to maintain a smoother relationship. Therefore, many give up on the benefits of relationship building.

In this article, we will highlight the best strategies to build and maintain relationships and why this skill is so important to your long-term happiness.

What is Relationship Building? Definition & Meaning

Relationship building benefits everyone, regardless of your specific job. Specifically, before you understand relationship building, you should understand the nature of relationships.

Relationships are built on honest communication, vulnerability, and active listening. When you are willing to learn about another and open up, relationships are built.

Both parties must feel heard and valued for a relationship to be successful. They take time to develop but are meaningful in the long run.

Relationship building is the process of consistently communicating with someone, being an active listener, and giving up time to be with someone. It involves dedication and honesty.

Any act that contributes to how close you are to an individual is a relationship-building act. These actions aim to make your partner feel more included, valued, and heard.

Without these characteristics, a relationship cannot be strong and lacks fulfillment. When you increase your partner’s trust in you, you exhibit relationship-building behavior as well.

In general, there are many types of relationship building. In all cases, relationship building aims to strengthen the bond between you and another person/people.

Why Relationship Building is Important in Leadership & in the Workplace

In business, your network and connection are closely related to your success. Additionally, your ability to communicate with your employees and build relationships with them is equally crucial.

If you do not have a close relationship with employees, they are unlikely to be engaged in their work.

The employees are also less likely to care about your company’s values, stay productive, or maintain a positive attitude.

However, if you are able to create a bond with employees, they are far more interested in working for you and doing their best at work.

Business partners are also more likely to trust you and negotiate deals with you if you have a professional work relationship with them.

However, these are not the only benefits of relationships in business.

List of 10 Benefits in Business Relationship Building

1. Customers are more likely to reorder and have more brand loyalty
2. You are more likely to negotiate deals with partners
3. A large network of business partners leads to more opportunities for growth and mentorship
4. Employees are more likely to listen to your instructions and respect you as a leader
5. Employees are more willing to follow company values and maintain a positive attitude
6. Improving relationship-building skills leads to greater leadership and communication abilities
7. You get the opportunity to build long-term friendships, which can make your work more enjoyable
8. Businesses that understand how to build relationships generally have a positive reputation
9. You can build a network of individuals who support you with advice and financial support
10. With strong relationships, you improve customer satisfaction and create more consistent cash flow. This is especially powerful in difficult times.

Relationship Building Types

While some believe relationship building is one singular type of task, there are many subcategories within this skill. They all focus on allowing you to get closer to someone.

However, many key differences exist as well. Mainly, they center around who the other individual is and what type of relationship you would like to build.

Below, we have provided a list of different relationship types.

Networking

Networking is typically associated with building a professional relationship. The term networking truly has a larger application than that.

It refers to simply meeting new individuals, regardless of their job. Networking can be done locally or via the web. Typically, you sign up for broad networking events in advance.

You will likely not know who is attending, as the focus is on meeting new people instead of acquaintances.

You may tell stories, recall your successes, understand the other person’s interests, and so on.

Being a successful networker involves capturing someone’s attention and being near-instantly likable.

Leadership

Leaders greatly benefit from relationship building. Every element of their job is improved if they have strong customer and commercial relationships.

Their team works better, customers are more satisfied, and business opportunities increase.

Once you develop a strong relationship with your team, they will to you for advice and feedback. This is a sign of trust.

Leaders who are able to unite teams and motivate them are also great at building relationships.

If you can create a singular goal that gets a group to work together harmoniously, you can foster incredible relationships.

Influencing

Influencers have a much greater reach than just impacting social media. Influencing reaches beyond the web and into the physical world.

The task of influencing involves selling or convincing individuals to have certain views, buy a product, or change their minds about something.

One common way individuals influence others is by showing exemplary behavior. By influencing your team through your relationships, you build stronger bonds.

If your team values your opinion and is influenced by your behavior, they are more likely to copy your actions and uphold company values.

Sales

If you wish to have a strong customer base, you must master the art of relationship building. Rapport and trust are necessary to get a customer to invest in your company or buy a product.

The second step of the sales pipeline, after grabbing the customer’s attention, is to convince them to believe in your mission.

If they are aligned with your values and understand the usefulness of your product, they are likely to purchase it.

Customer relation-building involves understanding their point of view: what they like, their values, needs, and motivations.

Customer Relationship

While sales involve the initial steps of customer acquisition, customer relationship building is far more long-term.

The customers who are truly invested in your brand are likely to be repeat buyers and are likely to recommend your company. In other words, customer relations are all about sustainability.

Being honest, actively listening, and caring about the customer’s needs all lead to stronger customer relationships. Indeed, customers often have a relationship with more than just your staff.

They may even associate themselves with your brand. They may align their values with yours so that they consistently refer others to your company instead of competitors.

Partner Relationship

In business, you cannot perform everything by yourself. If you wear too many hats, you cannot perform every task to the best of your ability.

This is why having great partner relationships is important. Some businesses will have separate marketing, web development, research, and supply partner.

Unfortunately, some firms believe that being exceedingly tough with partners is beneficial to their bottom line.

They may view this tension and positive pressure but are not interested in building long-term relationships and trust.

On the other hand, those that care about the long term are more likely to emphasize positive relationships and provide their partner with honest feedback.

Public Relationship

Managing and building positive relationships with the public can be overwhelming to entrepreneurs.

After all, a large number of individuals are included in this category: investors, credit lenders, the government, media reporters, local communities, online/offline influencers, and others.

Building public relations is about more than just having a PR team and occasionally doing interviews.

Instead, it is about consistently sharing your vision, being open, staying true to your values, and upholding your brand reputation.

8 Ways To Build Workplace Relationships

Anyone who wants to be trusted and valued as a leader should learn about the importance of workplace relationships.

Your workers will become more productive, start using a growth mindset, be more positive, and stay satisfied at work.

If you use emotional intelligence and communication skills, you can avoid building negative relationships. Instead, you can build genuinely positive relations.

Below are a few ways that you can improve your relationships in the workplace.

1. Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Even before you commit to changing your behavior, you should understand your strengths and flaws. Once you understand your main weak points, you will understand the skills you should focus on.

Acknowledging your strengths also gives you a source of motivation and confidence during a time of self-development.

One key trait you can focus on is emotional intelligence, as it will help you understand your employees and form stronger connections with them. EI consists of empathy, social skills, self-awareness, and self-control.

If you are unsure of how developed each of your strengths are, consider taking a simple online assessment like the HIGH5 Test.

With this test, you will get clear results that detail both your strengths and weaknesses. It allows you to maximize the time you have for self-development and increases the accuracy of your strength assessments.

2. Schedule time to develop relationships

Relationships are not built overnight; they take time to develop. As a leader, you are likely constantly busy, so making time for communication can be tough.

Nonetheless, scheduling time to speak to others is the best way to commit to building relationships. Even having small periods of communication is better than ignoring employees.

Try scheduling just 10 minutes during lunch or at the end of the work day. List the individual you wish to converse with and what about in advance.

After meetings or while you walk with a friend, try catching up. If you have time after work, schedule an outing that the entire team goes on.

3. Ask questions and listen

Being a good listener is as important, if not more important, than being an effective “talker/doer.”

An added benefit of listening is learning more about your partner, which inadvertently benefits your relationships.

Show that you care about your employee by asking them about their personal life, interests, and needs. Listen to their story and desires before sharing your needs and wants.

Try to consistently ask questions and reaffirm their feelings. This will show you are engaged and paying attention to the conversation, showing you value the other person.

If you prove you are a good listener, your colleague or employee is more likely to come to you for advice, share their concerns, or invite you to celebrate success with them.

4. Offer assistance

Being a helpful person is a great way to boost a relationship. When there is an opportunity to help someone, try your best to assist them.

This could be as simple as verbal support. Or, you could help an individual by finishing a project for them or filling in for them at work when they are sick.

If you see someone is struggling with a task, offer to help them out. If someone seems down, show that you care about their feelings and ask them about their troubles.

Trust is necessary for building relationships, and if you prove you care about someone, they are likely to reciprocate that care.

5. Know when to ask for assistance

You cannot always do everything yourself. Not only is this inefficient, but it also decreases the opportunities you have for personal connection.

If you ask for assistance, you open yourself up to conversations. If you encourage colleagues to work with you, there are many chances to connect with those individuals.

Also, consider the importance of the golden rule. Whenever you help others in their time of need, they are far more likely to help you when you are struggling.

Any successful relationship involves a balance of giving and taking. You can show you are capable of both by both supporting others and being vulnerable at times.

6. Appreciate each employee’s role

Appreciation can catapult any relationship to the next level. When there are misunderstandings, negative feelings often arise.

This frustration and negativity often lead to the development of a difficult relationship. This is avoidable if you consistently show the other party how much you care about them and value them.

Keep in mind that everyone has unique talents. Recognize these talents to show you notice a colleague’s strengths.

Instead of automatically blaming others, try another strategy. Work together as a team and delegate tasks based on strengths.

By doing so, you can develop positive relationships through appreciation and recognition.

7. Keep your commitments

Trust is the fundamental building block of relationships. To increase someone’s trust, follow through in your commitments and keep your promises.

Being reliable helps establish a positive reputation for yourself. This, individuals will be more likely to trust you and count on you.

If you find yourself struggling with commitments, ensure you do not promise too much at once. Be honest with your colleagues or partner about what you can handle to avoid disappointment.

Keeping a schedule will ensure you stay organized with your promises, and increase the odds of keeping these commitments.

8. Be present in the workplace

It is easy to get overwhelmed at work. You may constantly be bombarded by tasks, stressed by deadlines, or panic when a task is not completed.

This stress, urgency, and requirement for productivity lead some to start multitasking. They may simultaneously write articles while eating lunch or be on a phone call while reading a report.

While this approach may work for some, many others see negative consequences from it. One key drawback is that multitasking limits your ability to be present and interact with others at work.

Try communicating with others when you get the chance. If you can casually get to know your coworkers, you will easily build work relationships.

Key Elements of Good Workplace Relationships

Having a flourishing relationship involves utilizing many skills. To be more specific, four main elements make up the ability to maintain quality relationships.

Understanding these elements can encourage you to improve your relationships as well as address and evaluate your weaknesses.

If you want to build a great relationship at work, focus on the characteristics listed below.

Trust

Trust ensures that you and your colleague have an intimate relationship. After all, trust is not given to everyone, but rather, it is earned.

If you can acquire someone’s trust, they are more likely to invite you to more intimate settings, have deep conversations with you, and rely on you in their times of need.

In general, trust is the trait that allows your coworkers to count on you and expect you to follow through on your promises. As such, it is important for you to consistently meet your partner’s expectations.

If you promise something, ensure that you deliver. Do not make commitments on something that you cannot truly follow through with.

Acceptance

Some individuals focus on trying to change their colleagues or partners. They try to make them “perfect” instead of accepting them for who they truly are.

This is not conducive to building genuine relationships. While giving your coworkers tips on how to improve performance can be beneficial, you should not try to change their personalities.

If you cannot resist the urge to change someone, that is a sign that a relationship with them may not be possible.

Instead, try to recognize the other individual’s strengths. Praise them when they tackle their fears or achieve something outside of their comfort zone.

When it comes to their weaknesses, ask if they need any assistance in building them into strengths. If they say “no,” do not speak on the topic again.

Team member

Team players and individuals who care for the entire group are generally more appreciated than those who only look out for their own interests.

This does not mean that you should ignore your needs. Rather, try to find a way to intertwine your desires and goals with the goals of the entire organization.

Whenever you are assigned to a team project, ensure you perform a fair share of the work. Not only should you aim to complete it on time, but you should also produce high-quality work.

When someone else takes on a large role, or tries something outside of their comfort zone for the benefit of the group, applaud them.

Recognizing talent and persistence is a great way to build a relationship.

Open communication

Communication is also a vital element of any relationship, including one at work. When you openly communicate, you must be honest. Do not hide your true thoughts or feelings, for this makes you in-genuine.

On the other hand, honesty will make you a reliable individual. People will be more likely to seek your advice and opinions if you openly communicate.

Ensure your coworkers know that your email is open for questions. If they need to talk to you, let them know you are there for them.

Also, keep conversations flowing by asking questions and being engaged. All of these steps make you a better communicator and increase your odds of establishing relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions About Relationship Building

How do you demonstrate relationship-building skills?

Relationship-building skills encompass a wide array of many sub-skills. As such, there are many ways to demonstrate your ability to build relationships.

You can effectively communicate by encouraging others to come to you with questions and being an active listener.

Accepting others for who they truly are will show you know how to build relationships. Tell your colleagues that you notice their hard work and that you appreciate them.

How do you build a strong professional relationship?

Strong professional relationships can be built in numerous manners. For instance, you can build a relationship by helping others. If you see someone struggling, offer them some help.

Additionally, when you promise someone that you will perform a task, truly do so. Being a team player also increases your opportunities for relationship building.

Volunteer to take on more tasks than required whenever possible. Finally, being willing to talk to others and listening to their needs also serves as a way to build a professional relationship.

In ever aspect of life we are in, whether getting involved in the social activities, building our career path, or socializing with family and friends, we interact with various type of individuals.   Such interaction may occur with familiar people with whom we are in close contact like our family and friends or with new acquaintances.   We may also build a connection over a period of time with our work colleagues or members in a club. The fact that we interact with people everyday means that we are building a relationship with these individuals as we associate ourselves with them in one or the other way.

Concept of Relationship-Building

The term ‘relationship’ is rooted from the word ‘relation’ and is defined as a a mutual affiliation or connection between individuals or groups of people or entities. 

Relationships are built where there is mutual understanding between or among individuals. However, this is not built overnight. Establishing a relationship has certain requirements for it to develop. This concept is especially true if the individuals have just initiated a mutual connection. For an existing relationship such as that of family members, it simply needs to be fostered and nurtured.

There are various kinds of relationships that we all engage in and are rooted from a particular need of the person. For personal and emotional needs, we have family relationships, romantic relationships, and friendships. To meet our professional needs and demands, we form business relationships with our colleagues and customers.

Most relationships, if not all, are not always positive. There are times when the mutual bond of the individuals is tested by adversities and challenges. Taking care of a relationship is no different than nurturing a plant. Failed relationships are brought about by a weak foundation. Successful relationships are strengthened and hardened by the test of time.

Essentials of a Relationship

For a relationship to be born, it must be between and among individuals and entities. No relationship exists for a single person only. Shared interests between people form a relationship. Any common interests lead the way for building relationships.

Usually, we create a connection with someone who can offer something that we can relate to. With our family members and friends, we bond with them reciprocally because of love and care.  In the workplace, you maintain a relationship with the organization by making a contribution and in return, you get rewarded or compensated for it. Employees form a relationship because of shared ideas and work interests.

Communication is another factor that plays an important role in forming relationship. A relationship does not exist where there is no constant interaction with another person. Trust and respect are also very important aspects in a relationship.

Benefits of Building Good Relationships

It may appear easy to build relationships with people but the process is actually challenging. Once a relationship or a bond with another individual is broken, mending it can be difficult. However, if the mutual connection is developed and sustained, the outcome can be remarkable. A well-built relationship can create an impact in our lives. Socialization skills are enhanced as we connect to people around us positively.

With good relationships, we are able to easily attain personal and career goals because we are surrounded with individuals who support us in many aspects. An organization successfully achieves its mission-vision when employees or the team members are in a harmonious relationship with each other. With good mutual associations, an individual personally finds contentment and satisfaction in many things.

Building a relationship with others is not easy, unless the connection already exists. For a relationship to grow and become unrelenting, it has to be nourished and maintained. A good relationship can make wonders in the life of each one of us.

Author Description

In our global world of work, all of us are interdependent on one another in some fashion. Even seemingly solitary jobs are part of a larger ecosystem of intricate moving parts where we must interact to deliver our service, product, education, or research. 

When we work together effectively, we provide each other different perspectives and viewpoints that enhance our problem-solving abilities and help us all perform at a higher level.

Authentic relationship building in practice

Twelve years ago, I worked at Vanderbilt University as an assistant director at the Career Center. Our newest staff member, Christy, had been there 2 weeks and seemed like a great addition to the team, but I didn’t know her that well at the time. 

It was a balmy Tuesday in July and I had a presentation the next day and anticipated spending the afternoon compiling 35-page booklets for a staff training I was leading.

Of course, life intervened and I had unexpected situations to handle that afternoon, leaving me to start this at the end of the workday. This would have been fine, but then the copier started acting up and all the sheets were coming out crumpled.

Christy came back to the copy room and immediately jumped in — not only becoming the copy machine whisperer, but also helping me get everything together. I protested that she didn’t have to take time from her own evening, but she said she wouldn’t think of leaving me until we finished.

Two hours later, we high-fived as we looked at the stack of binders on the table.

I have no doubt I would have been there till 9 or 10pm had I been alone with that finicky copier. We grabbed dinner that night and I learned what brought her to Nashville and we bonded over being only children and other similarities. 

Make a lasting impression

As Humphrey Bogart said in Casablanca, “this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.» That evening, I was struck by how she sensed what I needed without being asked and stayed for the long haul. 

It may have been two hours, but those two hours meant the world to me in that moment. I’m happy to say the presentation went really well the next day, but more importantly, Christy is one of my closest friends to this day.

Cultivating strong relationships is the backbone of a thriving career

That story shows that cultivating strong relationships has the potential not only to boost our careers, but can actually make our work more enjoyable. Many of us spend more time at work than we do with our own families. While no one says you must be best friends with your coworkers, having strong relationships based on mutual respect certainly enhances the experience of work. 

Think back to your worst jobs. While the content of the work is important, in many cases, workers cite interpersonal issues with their boss or their team as a source of unhappiness.

There is strong scientific evidence to support that interpersonal conflict results in poor job outcomes, including:

• quitting a job you would otherwise be happy at
• irrational decision making
• political or self-serving behavior, among other things

Of course avoiding conflict at all costs isn’t the answer (that’s just another form of political behavior with some of its own undesirable outcomes). But simple, effective relationship building that helps you grow your career and feel more fulfilled is.

Quality matters when it comes to relationship building

When talking about relationship building, we want to move beyond surface level interactions with coworkers that are cordial, yet lack authenticity. Sure, talking about the weather or latest headlines will suffice, but does that forge the bond that helps you do your best work? 

You want to strive for meaningful work relationships that aren’t fake or phony and provide a safe space to stretch and grow as a team; a place conducive to innovation and productivity. 

So, what is the key to authentic relationship building?

The answer lies in a combination of factors that serve as the foundation for effective communication, which is an essential component to relationship building.

• Awareness of your own, and coworker’s motivations
• Empathy
• Emotional Intelligence

Motivations matter

Self-awareness is critical to relationship building because we have to understand what drives us to behave the way we do. We are all a compilation of our past experiences and those affect the lens through which we see the world and our reactions to people and situations. It’s why two people can see the same situation in different ways. 

How mis-matched motivations (without awareness) can lead to conflict:

For example, if a supervisor requests a weekly check-in with an employee, one may see it as a great opportunity to connect and be on the same page, while another may fear being micromanaged based on the experience they had with a past boss at a prior company. The supervisor’s intentions were intended to provide support to the team yet received in very different ways. 

Utilizing F4S assessment tools allows you to not only gain insights into your own motivations, but your team’s as well. If that supervisor better understood the second employee’s need for autonomy, she could have framed the conversation in a different way and explained the changes in language that motivated the employee, rather than provoke a knee-jerk sense of fear.

Accommodating others’ preferences doesn’t mean abandoning your own.

Some people may bristle at the idea of having to change your communication style for others and think we are asking others to be mind readers, but that’s not the case. Simply taking the time to listen to others and consider where others are coming from can make a world of difference in building relationships.

You will still have your own style, yet be receptive to those with different views and motivations. For example, security may mean everything to one person, while another values freedom. Neither are wrong, they are just different and reflect their individual experiences and motivations. 

We (mis)interpret events through our own lens of what matters to us. This is the root of all conflict.

Oftentimes, there are multiple ways to interpret one’s actions. In the weekly check-in example above, a supervisor without an understanding of motivations may think the employee complaining about the meetings is disgruntled and being difficult, but the supervisor with that knowledge would understand it was not personal. They would realize how transparency in the message could go a long way towards easing the mind of her employee, ensuring a better team dynamic. 

When armed with information about motivations from assessments like F4S and learning to truly listen to people, it’s much easier to understand how to interpret another’s actions and oftentimes, provide them the benefit of the doubt. 

Remember — improving how you work with others is two-way street. By using a tool like F4S to build awareness around individual motivations with the rest of your team, you help others to understand and be mindful of your own personal preferences as well.

Relationships are like tennis matches with messages constantly going back and forth. By showing a willingness to understand the other person (and your own preferences and biases), you can better craft your return messages and connect on a deeper level.

Empathy and relationship building

Empathy refers to the ability to sense other people’s emotions and imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. It’s one thing to understand that your coworker is motivated by the need for autonomy, but another to try and put yourself in that person’s shoes. 

When you demonstrate empathy, you show a willingness to go beyond your own motivations and think about another person’s experience. Think of Christy helping me that evening at Vanderbilt. She saw me struggling and thought how she would feel and what she would want someone to do for her in that situation. In the context of developing relationships, a little empathy goes a long way.

Empathy is a powerful tool that neutralizes negativity, while increasing job satisfaction, workplace motivation and productivity. Likely due, in part, to increasing gender equity in the workplace, our understanding of leadership is evolving and empathy (which has not always been prized in leadership as it was not a traditionally ‘masculine’ trait) is increasingly recognized as a key component of leadership effectiveness.

The science of empathy and being mindful of others: 

• Rae Shanahan, Chief Strategy Officer at Businessolver, conducted a study that found that nine out of ten employees, professionals and CEOs value the importance of empathy to an organization and see it as critical to the mental health of employees.
• Google explored several team dynamics with their Project Aristotle that found the most successful teams provided each member time and space to contribute, which fosters innovation. The more extroverted members of the group may speak up first, but healthy teams value the input of all members and allow time for the introverts to reflect and share their thoughts, which combined with the others, can help the group break through barriers.

How to cultivate empathy (if it doesn’t come naturally)

If empathy does not come naturally to you and you’re worried it will negatively impact your relationship building efforts, do not fret – this is something that you can build over time. Just as you go to the gym to gain muscle, you can try exercises to increase your sense of empathy. 

The next time you see someone struggling, ask yourself how you would feel in that situation and think of what you would need. If it’s possible, help that person, even if it’s something as simple as a reassuring smile or hello. 

Reading fiction is another way to immerse yourself in the perspective of another. Finally, being aware of your own motivations can point out blind spots that you have when it comes to others and the world. Acknowledging and celebrating a diversity of viewpoints is a hallmark of successful relationship building.

Harness your emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a concept coined by Salovey and Mayer in 1990 and then popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman in his 1995 book that describes the ability to not only understand and manage your own emotions, but also understand the emotions of the people around you.

People with high emotional intelligence recognize the effect of their own behavior on others. They utilize understanding of themselves and others to help them navigate the maze of social situations we encounter each day. 

Emotional intelligence in practice

For example, if a coworker comes in and is grumpy at the coffee maker, are you going to take it personally and let it ruin your day? Or, do you take a moment and ask them if they are okay? You may find out that their car broke down that morning or they are worried about a family member who is sick. It goes back to not taking things personally and recognizing all the variables behind a person’s mood. 

The person with high emotional intelligence sees a bigger picture and does not automatically catastrophize minor interactions and jump to negative conclusions about the relationship with that person as a whole (he does not like me). 

Those with emotional intelligence have feelings like everyone else, but they also know that not everything is about them. 

Teams need emotionally intelligent leaders

High levels of emotional intelligence provide resiliency to a team where people don’t feel like they have to walk on eggshells with one another and can take chances and suggest new ideas without fear of ridicule. They are better equipped to navigate change, the unexpected and support each other through the journey.

Emotional intelligence is often seen as essential for effective leaders and reflects intentionality in communication with others. You are actively making an effort to connect with people and meet them where they are at emotionally.

You can hone your emotional intelligence by recognizing how your communication (both verbal and nonverbal) impacts others, which can go a long way in improving your relationships.

14 additional strategies for professional relationship building

Besides understanding your motivations, building empathy and utilizing your emotional intelligence, there are myriad of strategies to improve your relationship building skills.

Practicing the following 13 strategies on a regular basis will in turn help boost your emotional intelligence and empathy skills, so it really is a win-win situation.

1 — Active listening – Focus on what the person is saying and how they’re saying it, rather than just thinking about what you’re going to say next.

2 — Remember names — People love hearing the sound of their own name. If you struggle to remember names, try and think of someone you know who has that same name and or a celebrity and use that association to remember it later. Also, be sure you are listening when they say their name the first time. If it’s a loud room and you didn’t hear it correctly, this is your window to ask again. Otherwise, it gets awkward if you wait until later after seeing them again.

3 — Remember personal details — After meeting with new clients or contacts, write a few details about your conversation in a note on your phone. Include the names of their significant other or pet if they mentioned it. Before you see them next, review your notes and ask about people and events important to them.‍

4 — Respect differences and welcome diversity – Be open to people with different ideas and opinions from your own. The best teams have a variety of ideas and challenge each other to open their worlds to new concepts; that’s what fosters innovation. ‍

5 — Be present — Be sure to put your phone down and stay engaged in the conversation in the moment with the person you are with — do not make them feel as if you are waiting for a more important message. ‍

6 — Ask questions — This shows you are interested in what people have to say and want to learn more about them. ‍

7 — Share appropriately — Strike the balance between sharing too little and too much. If you divulge extremely personal details too soon, it can make people uncomfortable. If you hardly ever say anything about yourself, it can make it hard for people to get to know you. Gradually share more about yourself as you get to know someone within the appropriate bounds of that relationship whether personal or professional. ‍

8 — Be genuine — Don’t try and be something you’re not. Have confidence regarding what you have to offer the world and your team. When it comes to others, be authentic and have an interest in learning about them. ‍

9 — Don’t put too much pressure on the relationship — Let the relationship develop naturally and don’t try and make it move too fast. This is true for professional networking during normal times and even more important during times of uncertainly.‍

10 — Avoid assumptions — Don’t assume that people will feel the same way about something that you do. We all have different experiences and backgrounds that make us who we are. It’s these differences that make the world interesting. Ask questions and learn from others.‍

11 — Communicate clearly — Remember that people cannot reach your mind and that’s important to clearly convey what you are feeling and thinking in an appropriate manner. Over-communicating is actually the key to effective communication when you are connecting virtually!‍

12 — Respect privacy — If someone shares something with you, keep it to yourself. How would you feel if somebody shared details about you that you did not intend? ‍

13 — Give the benefit of the doubt — Appreciate the spirit in which somebody is saying something. Constructive criticism is never easy to hear, but sometimes it’s exactly what we need to grow. Consider a person’s intentions and if they are truly trying to help. Think back to times when you said something that didn’t come across the way you intended.‍

14 — Take a chance — Relationships start because someone took a chance to reach out to another. Don’t always be the one waiting for somebody else to reach out to you. 

Relationship building in the Age of Social Distancing and Remote work

Building relationships when most of the world is stuck at home in the middle of a global crisis adds another layer of complexity, but it underscores our commonalities. 

In 1943, Abraham Maslow published a «A Theory of Human Motivation» in Psychological Review, which outlined a Hierarchy of Needs describing a pyramid of human needs from those most pressing physiological and safety needs at the bottom layers of the pyramid (air, water, food, sleep, shelter, health, security, employment) to higher level needs like belonging and human connection, esteem, and at the top, self-actualization (achieving one’s full potential).

We need authentic relationships now, more than ever.

Given the global pandemic, millions are being directly affected and either dealing with a health crisis for themselves, their families, facing loss of loved ones, or finding their basic needs in jeopardy as a result of the economic fallout. For others, the direct effects have not been as severe, yet the fear, sadness and prevailing uncertainty loom in the air. 

How is one supposed to develop relationships under these conditions? Is everything on hold for now?

Now more than ever, we need each other to get through this, even when practicing social distancing. We may not have the water cooler or coffee machine to congregate around or office to go to, yet we are fortunate to have the power of technology to keep us connected.

The same tips for relationship building apply here as well, even when video conferencing and conducting appointments on the phone.

How to build relationships and network, even while working from home:

1 — Focus on building psychological safety for yourself and your colleagues. This is a great post on psychological safety to help you get started.

2 — Prioritize team bonding. Leave the status updates for Slack, and the video meetings for actual human connection.

(Here are some remote team building activities to help you boost morale and trust in rough times.)

3 — Listen first, and be patient. This is especially important when people are experiencing external issues (whether that means a family member getting sick, a high level of stress, or even just technology issues). 

4 — Remember that everyone is doing the best they can under the circumstances. 

People all react differently to stress and we may not understand the full extent of how current events are affecting our colleagues, so practice empathy. We must be as flexible as possible understanding that normal expectations cannot apply to these tumultuous times. 

5 — Seek out ways to be there for your team and contacts, even if it’s simply texting or Facetiming to check on someone and see how they are doing. 

6 — Follow their lead. When connecting with clients or anyone, let them set the conversational tone. Some may want to talk about world events for a few minutes before beginning, while others may want to dive into the task at hand as a respite from all the distressing news. Be sure to hone into both the message at hand and how it’s being delivered to frame your responses accordingly.

Note: You can always jump into F4S before a meeting to see the participant’s preferred conversation style. 

If they have a high motivation for affective communication, make sure to allow for extra time to talk about their personal circumstances and emotions. Someone who is more motivated for neutral communication might not find this as essential, but it’s still a good idea to give them the space and freedom to share if they want to.

Why relationship building is worth the effort

Genuine connections enrich both our professional and personal lives.

Relationship building takes time and energy, yet has the potential to open our lives to new and wonderful experiences. 

Yes, you might turn a stranger into your next client, boss, or co-founder. They could even introduce you to your dream mentor. But when you approach relationship building in the traditional ‘networking’ sense, you’re much less likely to form a lasting bond.

Relationships built on authenticity are the ones most likely to bring you those career-boosting opportunities you’re excited about, so keep that in mind!

Our world and the way we connect may be changing rapidly, but our need to connect remains. Take the time, you’ll be glad you made the effort.

Invite your coworkers and friends to create a free F4S account, so you can get to know what makes them tick.

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This article was written by Tiffany Franklin, who has been a career coach since 1998, guiding over 6,000 job seekers of all levels and industries through the finer points of a job search. She currently works as Associate Director for Career Services at an Ivy League university where she helps freshmen through Ph.Ds. and alumni with all aspects of their career search.

The power of building relationships cannot be overstated. While the concept “building relationships” sounds like a fancy business buzzword, there’s really a lot of substance behind it.

Many people do fine going about their business keeping their head down. Sometimes they poke their head out from their cubicle like a prairie dog when there’s free cake to be had but other than that, they do their own thing. They only worry about interacting with the people that they need to on a day to day basis.

Unfortunately, these people are shortchanging their own career. In this article, we will look at the art of building relationships you need to succeed in your career.

Remember, you are the CEO of your own career. How far you go towards achieving the goals you want for yourself in your career is squarely on your shoulders. Utilize the art of building relationships to help power success in your career.

Let’s take a look at why building relationships is so important to your career and how to go about doing it.

How Building Relationships Helps Your Career

Building relationships is often cited as one of the key drivers for building a successful career. It is absolutely mission critical. Building relationships helps your career in so many ways. When you make an effort to build relationships with your clients, it shows that you actually care about them as customers.

Creating positive and supportive relationships with your fellow coworkers will help you perform your job better. When they see that you are an important member of the team, they will want to work with you and come to look forward to interacting with you.

As you develop meaningful dialogue with your boss and deepen the relationship, he or she will see that they can trust you. They see you as someone who does what they say they are going to do and that builds trust. Building the trust and relationship with your boss can help you immensely in your career.

As we will see in this article shortly, there are some key people you should build relationships outside of work that can be hugely beneficial to you as well. Everywhere you look, you will see the value of creating strong relationships to propel your career.

Who to Build Relationships With

Ideally, you want to build relationships both inside and outside your company. I realize this might sound a bit strange, so let me explain:

The people inside your company can really help with the day to day aspects of your job and career. These include your boss or bosses, your fellow coworkers, and I’m going to include vendors you might work with.

Outside of your company, there are other groups of people you should work to build great relationships with. These include your customers, mentors, and key folks in your industry.

Let’s take a deeper look at these groups:

Internally At Work

Your Boss

This should immediate pop into your mind. It is super important to build a good relationship with your boss or bosses.

Many people have one boss. I’ve worked in several organizations where I really had numerous bosses I had to develop relationships with. In any event, this is a critical relationship to build.

Make sure you have ongoing, open communication with your boss. Stay clear on your objectives and priorities. Know what areas create the biggest impact for your supervisor (and therefore you).

Be aligned on strategic initiatives and how you can help shape and influence that whenever possible. This all becomes possible when you and your boss(es) are on the same page through a good working relationship.

Your Associates

This is pretty much a no brainer as well. You can most likely see the benefit of solid working relationships with those people you interact with at work on a regular basis.

It’s a wonderful thing to know someone you work with has your back and you have theirs as you navigate your career and work product. These is a direct result of creating and building great relationships with your associates.

Keep open dialogue and a create a sense of teamwork and fun whenever possible.

Your Customers

This could really be included in either in or out of work. Some of us work with internal customers, some of us with external customers.

If you are client facing, then you have to be able to build trustful, advisor-like relationships with them. You want them to see you as a great resource in whatever capacity they are paying you or your company. That is your value to them. This comes from creating those trusting and meaningful relationships.

If your customers are inside your company, it’s super important to create great working relationships with them as well. Being in recruiting I have internal customers (hiring managers) and external customers (candidates).

Outside Of Work

Mentors

You can have mentors both inside and outside of work. Best case scenario is to have mentors at both.

I like to stay in touch with my favorite bosses of all time. I continue to get advice and direction from them from time to time. They are from previous jobs so they are really outside of my day to day work.

I also have several mentors who do similar work to what I do, but are more senior and therefore more experienced and have some great wisdom. It takes work to maintain these relationships but it is well worth it.

Key Industry Folks

I work in recruiting. There are people at other companies who oversee huge recruiting machines. I like to have strong relationships with some of these folks that I get along well with. That way we are able to offer up advice to each other from time to time. If I am facing a new challenge, I can pick up the phone and call for some input.

There are also some people I’ve developed relationships with over the years who have expertise in a specific area. They are awesome when I need some advice in their area of expertise. Conversely, I can help them from time to time with my expertise.

Vendor Partners

Not all of us work with vendors in our day to day job responsibilities. If you do, it’s well worth building strong relationships with your most important vendor partners.

Not all vendors are great. The ones that are truly invested in helping your company succeed are worth the time to create meaningful relationships with.

In one fashion or another, we are all a vendor to someone. We all have customers. Recognize who helps you succeed with your customers and treat them accordingly.

The Art of Building Relationships

Building relationships is part science and part art. To be an effective relationship builder, you’ve got to genuinely be interested in others. Here are some strategies that can help you build relationships to help you in your career.

We’ve looked at the key groups of people that you should build relationships with. Now let’s take a look at some specific relationship building strategies and ideas.

1. Be Appreciative

One of the foundations of building relationships is being appreciative of everyone you partner with at work. This includes your clients, your boss or bosses, and your fellow coworkers.

Take the time to say thank and be genuinely appreciative of what they have done for you. It might be in the form of incoming revenue from a client, or could be the tips and guidance your boss provides to you. It might be the report or presentation your fellow associate helped you with that helped you land the new client.

Always be appreciative of how others interact with and help you during the course of business.

2. Spend Your Time Wisely

It’s not uncommon for me to try to run in too many differing directions. When I do this, I am not very effective at any of them. When I focus on the most important items, I am much more effective.

This is suggested with relationships as well. Identify the most meaningful relationships you should create and maintain for both your career and others.

Remember, this isn’t a one-sided deal. You have to be a person that someone wants to invest time in to create a solid relationship. Speaking of which…

3. Give as Much as You Get

This is really true in all relationships and it certainly applies here. You have to be able to provide equal value in the relationship.

Maybe you’re a mentor to someone. To your boss, you provide a great work product and that’s some very good value for your boss. You provide insight and value to your clients and customers — whether they are internal or external.

Make sure you take the time and spend the energy to give as much as you get, if not more.

4. Be Social

Work relationships don’t just get created and developed at work. Many times, this happens outside of the building you work in. It can happen over lunch, coffee, and adult beverage, at the gym, and many other places.

Take the time to invite key folks you want to build relationships to lunch or coffee or whatever works. You don’t always have to talk about work topics. Some of the best working relationships get the foundation built outside of the office without talking about work stuff at all.

5. Get out of Your Comfort Zone

It’s one thing to ask a coworker to lunch to start building a relationship. It’s quite another to pick up the phone and call someone you’ve never met because you think they could be a key relationship.

Force yourself to get out of your comfort zone and develop some relationships with people you don’t know.

I have reached out to quite a few people that recruit for the same kind of people in the same industry as me but work at competitors. Unsurprisingly, most of them have ignored me. With several that haven’t ignored me, we’ve built meaningful, referral type relationships.

6. Help Others Succeed

There is probably no better way at building relationships you need to succeed in your career than helping others succeed. This one thing is so powerful it will win you instant relationships. Think about the last time someone you worked with went out of their way to help you in a critical work moment.

I’ve recently joined a new company. I am working on recruiting someone who I believe will be a huge success at the company I am now at. The person that runs the Western half of the US offered to help me. His exact email words were “Let me know if there is anything I can do. I’m more than happy to do what I can to help land this individual”. You can bet he made an instant fan in me.

Conclusion

The ability to build relationships has the power to help you incredibly in your career. There is no one magic technique that creates these partnerships but rather a variety of methods and approaches.

Through the course of this article, we’ve looked at the art of building relationship you need to succeed in your career. Take what works for you and apply it liberally to give your career a significant lift.

Remember, the success you achieve in your career is entirely up to you. When you put the time and energy into building strong work related relationships, you give yourself a huge career boost.

• How to Master Effective Communication Skills at Work and Home
• 12 Tactics to Negotiate Better and Not Be a Pushover
• 7 Most Important Communication Techniques to Master in the Workplace
• How to Work with Different Communication Styles in the Office
• 5 Steps to Master Networking Skills and Perfect Your Personal Branding
• How a Lack of Communication Can Drastically Impact Your Career

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