In today's modern workplace, building strong relationships is crucial for success. Unlike traditional hierarchical workplaces, modern workplaces are characterized by a bottoms-up culture with more autonomy. As a result, priorities and objectives may not always align, and dependencies between teams can increase, creating the need for strong relationships to cut across silos. Moreover, with technology evolving rapidly, many products are highly complex, requiring multiple specialized teams, which means that relationships must be built across teams.
Despite these needs, building relationships can be challenging in a fast-paced environment where there is pressure to move fast and get things done quickly. However, taking the time to build relationships is worth the effort, as it can lead to more effortless work down the line. To build strong relationships, credibility and trust are key components. People want to work with others they trust, and credibility counts when building and initiating relationships.
Take these 5 key steps to build strong relationships:
1. Create goals around relationship building
Building relationships should be as important as getting results or delivering on your goals. Think of building relationships as a key deliverable or a key goal that you can set for yourself or your team.
2. Connect with people and learn about them
Show genuine interest in the person you are talking to. Listen to what they have to say, and ask questions. Ask them for feedback or hear out their concerns. Set up one-on-one meetings, have informal chats over coffee or lunch, and learn something about them that is not related to work. The third step is to actively listen to others. Listen to their ideas, concerns, and feedback.
3. Follow up and put in the effort
Follow up with people you have talked to. This can be as simple as sending them an email or a message to check-in. Following up shows that you value the relationship and that you are willing to put in the effort to maintain it. Follow through on commitments. Do what you say you will do, and if you cannot, communicate why.
4. Find opportunities to help them
Once you had established a relationship, find ways to help them or connect them to other people that can help. Helping others doesn't need a lot of effort but those people will always be thankful to you. Someday they will help you too.
5. Have empathy and be authentic
People can sense when someone is not being authentic, so be yourself and avoid putting on a false persona. Make sure that you do not go in with an agenda when building relationships.
Always show up with empathy. Understand and acknowledge their perspectives and make them feel included in key conversations. Learn what is important to them find ways to create win-win situations.
While we all know that it is important to build relationship, we often deprioritize it. Your action item is to set yourself goals for the next quarter - Meet 5 new people - get to know them and form a connection. Let me know how it went.
If you want to delve deeper into this topic, be sure to check out our podcast where you can listen to the extended version of this discussion
Are you having trouble forming strong relationship at work or running into conflicts? I can help you navigate difficult circumstances and create strong connections. Contact me to set up an introductory call.