I think we all know that networks are valuable, but the positive results of building relationships aren’t necessarily evident from the start when you first begin to connect with someone. But the trick to good networking is that it can’t come from a place of selfishness—you have to be willing to put others first in order to make strong, authentic connections. Sometimes that means giving more than you get in return.
Whether you already have a large network or are just getting started in your career, here are some of my favorite tips for building and strengthening relationships with people:
1. Be a giver
Building relationships starts with giving. If you go into any relationship thinking only about how you can benefit, you’ll never be able to establish deep or authentic connections. Not every relationship has to be a deep one, but positive relationships are mutually beneficial, and that has to start with you. If you put forth an effort to give, to share your time, information, and resources, you’ll be able to quickly build trust as people learn to think of you as a generous person—someone they can count on. And if you’ve put the effort into helping others, they’ll remember that when you need help or when they see an opportunity that might benefit you.
2. Connect people to each other
Because relationships are so valuable, one of the best things you can do is to connect people you know to one another, even when there’s no direct benefit to you. If you know two people who could benefit one another, perhaps because they have similar interests or complementary skill sets, or even just because they’d find one another interesting, take the time to make that connection. By doing so, you help set others up for success. It may or may not come back around to benefit you in the long run, but if you continue to practice connecting others regularly, you’ll gain a reputation as someone who connects people, which means others will think of you when opportunities come their way.
3. Build a business community
Being generous with your time and helping people establish beneficial relationships are the start of building a strong business community. I think it’s very important to do these things without self-interest in mind, but one way that you can benefit from these activities in the long run is through a larger business community or referral network. Let’s say you have a friend who needs help with their business, and you recommend another friend to help them, knowing they’ll receive the best possible help. You may not get a referral fee, but either of those friends may end up referring business to you in the future because you referred business to them. As you build your business community, you can set up a larger referral network of trusted businesses that may or may not operate within the same spheres but who refer work to one another not simply back and forth but within the community at large, so everyone within the network benefits.
4. Put time into networking
Relationships take time to build. Often that’s the very thing that keeps us from expanding or deepening our networks. Unfortunately, you simply have to be intentional about networking at every step, from meeting new people to deepening and then maintaining those relationships. That means going to events, making an effort to connect with others, and sending follow-up messages to the people you’ve met. Once you’ve established relationships, maintaining them requires setting aside time to meet up with an individual for coffee or lunch or going to an event together. If things aren’t on the calendar, they often don’t get done, so make an effort to extend and say yes to invitations.
5. Send a message to someone who comes to mind
The hardest part of networking is maintaining relationships after you’ve built them. It can be fun and exciting to meet someone new, but keeping up with them if you don’t run into each other frequently can be particularly difficult. That’s why, if I think of someone, I take it as a cue to get in touch. Sometimes I’ll send a text message, call them on the phone, or send a video message. I’m sure you’ve had the experience of someone coming into your mind while you’re driving or seeing a post on social media that made you think of someone. There are all sorts of reasons someone might come to mind. So when they do, take action right away before you forget. The more often you take the opportunity to reach out to people, the better connections you’ll have with others and the more opportunities will open up to you as a result.
The power of a robust professional network cannot be overstated in today’s dynamic business landscape. Whether you are a seasoned executive or just starting your career journey, investing time and effort into building and strengthening relationships is a strategic imperative. The positive outcomes of networking may not always be immediately apparent, but remember, we are all humans and we thrive on quality relationships.
