As many of us know, success in business (and in life) often comes down to who you know, not what you know. Some of the most well connected people have networks so strong that they are able to make anything happen in two phone calls or less.
There are five habits that will help you foster the relationships that will lead to a powerful network:
- Be generous, the best relationships are built on a mutual desire to give value to the other person. Both parties should focus on giving, not receiving, this will foster a genuine bond that goes deeper than the value of the exchange. This will help build mutual trust.
- Listen well, people want to be heard and understood. Develop self-awareness and notice if you are truly engaged in the conversation. A quick and easy way to be a better listener is to stop interrupting.
- Treat others the way you want to be treated, strive to have a good reputation. Building a positive reputation will take time, however, it is vital to building relationships. Consistently treat others the way you want to be treated, this is the best way to build a stellar reputation.
- Celebrate others’ accomplishments, this makes people feel good. This doesn’t have to be a grandiose gesture it could be just a quick congratulation on social media or an email. Although a phone call or in person celebration is even better.
- Focus on quality, focus on fostering a few key relationships, rather than trying to spread yourself thin across as many people as possible. The best networks are created through depth, not breadth.
Meaningful relationships are built with intention, honesty, generosity and sincerity. There are no shortcuts.
Inc.com “5 Habits of the Most Connected People” July 26, 2017, Andrew Thomas