Success in business usually depends on the ability of business people to build relationships. Although many people can naturally and easily connect with others, some find themselves constantly challenged by poor quality business relationships. Many people who succeed in business attribute their achievements to a lifetime of relationship building.
Despite the many seminars and books devoted to the importance of relationship building, many people still fail to take the necessary steps to expand their networks and find prospective partners and customers. This suggests developing networking skills could represent one of the most difficult challenges business owners face. The following three tips can help business people build beneficial relationships.
1. Put others first. Successful businesspeople use the natural law of sowing and reaping to set the stage for long term personal and professional gains. People who willingly give to others without expecting anything in return demonstrate selfless attitudes that build trust and respect.
2. Serve as an intermediary. Those who spend the time and effort brokering connections can become a convenient way to get to build a personal brand and face time with key players in the business community. While brokering relationships, business people should remember to respect the time of others while making introductions.
3. Challenge comfort zones. People who have trouble getting to know strangers need to deliberately put themselves in situations where they have no choice but to talk to people. Making a conscious effort to attend business and social events where area business people often gather can force reticent business owners to learn to mingle and learn the ropes of the networking scene.
Professionals who build a strong network of friends have the valuable resources they need to meet important people, learn about business opportunities and achieve things in their careers that they could never accomplish alone.
Read more at Inc.com
