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Building Professional Relationshipsđ€đŹ
Building and maintaining a professional network.
Staying connected and developing professional relationships takes time, work, and strategy.
Improve
Your Communication SkillsđIt will be nearly impossible to build better professional relationships if your communication skills are ineffective or even nonexistent. Communicating isnât just about talking to someone or hearing them when they speak. You both have to understand what the other person is saying.
Slow down when you talk, ask questions when someone else is speaking to you, and if you repeat back what youâre hearing to ensure you both are on the same page.
Poor communication is at the crux of many workplace issues, including low morale, increased stress, and failure to meet deadlines.
Respect Othersđ
This is right up there with improving communication skills.
If there is one thing most people canât tolerate, itâs feeling disrespected, whether at home, at work, or by the barista at the coffee shop.
When trying to build better relationships, always remember to follow the golden rule and treat others as you would want to be treated. This means being courteous, using non-offensive language, and respecting peopleâs time.
Respond
to Feedback PositivelyđYou can talk about growth and improvement as much as you want, but if you canât take feedback with a grain of salt and you donât know how to give others constructive feedback, you wonât be able to progress past where you currently are. Giving feedback to others opens the door to establishing a deeper rapport.
Receiving feedback from others is an opportunity for you to address specific issues that may be hindering your professional development. Feedback is ultimately about perspective and will help you learn how to see things from different angles.
Be
EmpatheticđContrary to what it sometimes feels like, developing better professional relationships isnât about always proving youâre better than others. In fact, being empathetic to others, especially those who may be in a position thatâs subordinate to yours, will go a long way in solidifying relationships.
Instead of feeling smug because you did something better or knew something someone didnât, use the experience as a teaching opportunity and a chance to support someone else.
Celebrate
OthersđIt can be easy to feel envious of someone elseâs achievements, especially if youâve been working hard on something of your own. But instead of feeling annoyed or jealous, congratulate the person.
If you get a notice on a platform like LinkedIn that itâs a work anniversary or theyâve gotten some award, use it as a chance to catch up.
Showing genuine interest and sending congrats also opens the door to ask questions or seek advice on what theyâve been doing effectively.
Seek
OpinionsđOne of the main reasons we network with people is to take advantage of their experience, skills, or knowledge at some point in time, even if itâs just reading articles they post.
You shouldnât email blast everyone on your contact list regularly (or youâll find yourself losing contacts left and right). However, donât hesitate to reach out if you have a real need for their opinion or advice. Be sure to inquire about them, too, and always be courteous and close with a thank you.
Get
CoffeeâIf youâre trying to build more of a rapport with a professional contact, try to take it off the page. Suggest meeting for a coffee and set a specific time so they know you arenât planning on chatting their ear off for two hours on a Sunday morning.
Check-Inâ
You might not always have something specific in mind to talk about or ask about. Thatâs fine. You can always drop a note to check-in. This works well with people youâve briefly met or talked to once or twice but donât have an established relationship yet. Keep it short and to the point and thank them for their time.
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