How do you build and maintain relationships with other teams and stakeholders?

Let's imagine you're about to start a new project or make a big decision. One of the first things you should do? Figure out who your stakeholders are. Ask yourself this "who could this decision affect, and who might influence the outcome?" Your team, other departments, customers, business partners, and even regulators, could all have a stake. Now, the fun part begins. Start chatting with them, find out their views, needs, and any worries they might have. You're not just ticking names off a list here. This way you're building solid relationships with the right people and you'll be all set to respond effectively to whatever they might throw at you. Building relationships is a two-way street, after all!

This seems so calculating and strategic, which is fine and all, but my approach has always been more along the lines of "find people you're interested in learning more about, from, or with, and go grab coffee or a bite to eat with them." It's a personal relationship, not a chess match.

Also, I think it is important to always check with your stakeholders their understanding of what you are trying to communicate. Sometimes some stakeholders can interpret something utterly different to what you have in your mind, so checking and re-checking could be an excellent strategy to avoid misunderstandings.

I always say that communication is the cause of and solution to most problems in life & business. Get really good at communicating and you'll encounter fewer problems. The advice above is fine, but very tactical and formal. I'm big on informal check-ins where I ask "how are you feeling about X?" People tell you a lot when you ask them how they're feeling....

I usually fall back on these 6 steps when looking to communicate clearly: Organize Your Thoughts: Gather your ideas and identify your main message for clear communication. Consider Your Audience: Tailor your language and tone to suit your audience's level of familiarity. Be Concise and Avoid Jargon: Use simple and straightforward language to convey your message without confusing others. Practice Active Listening: Focus on what others are saying, maintain eye contact, and show genuine interest. Seek Clarity Through Questions: Ask for clarification when something is unclear. Mind Non-Verbal Cues: Pay attention to your body language.

In addition to that mentioned above, I would like to stress how both time and effort are crucial to building rapport and relationships. It calls for reliable conduct and genuine intentions to build strong bonds. For overall success and effective collaboration with any team members or stakeholders, I would focus on the following attributes, which I term "CATIE": -Cooperation -Appreciation -Transparency -Integrity, and -Empathy. Building relationships, after all, is both an art and a science.

In addition to the above, building trust and rapport is also highly connected to open and honest communication. A successful team made of people who can be honest and communicate when they are not able to achieve certain goals and objectives or tasks. However, it shouldn't be that then the members are always unavailable and unwilling to compromise. This kills trust and the team spirit.

Building trust and rapport is about connecting on a deeper level. Here are a few tips: 1. Listen up! Give your full attention, maintain eye contact, and show genuine interest through nods and cues. Active listening makes others feel valued and builds trust. 2. Keep it real. Be yourself and let your true personality shine. Authenticity shows that you're trustworthy and reliable, forming a strong foundation for rapport. 3. Support and collaborate. Appreciate others' efforts, be there for them, and work together towards common goals. Being a team player fosters trust and creates strong relationships.

I'll add to this that it's useful to clarify assumptions as well. Expectations and outcomes are great deliverables, but what assumptions are being made when setting those?

From a business perspective, this one is easy. Set expectations from the onset. 1. Be upfront and honest. 2. Define the goals & timeline. 3. Communicate what you CANNOT do. 4. Update the client regularly. 5. Get feedback and improve your process going forward.

Always remember that everyone is just like you, with their own families, hobbies, and personal lives. This understanding fosters empathy and helps build stronger connections by acknowledging that behind the professional roles and responsibilities, there are real individuals with unique experiences and interests. By treating others with the same respect, understanding, and consideration that you would expect, you create a more inclusive and supportive environment that promotes collaboration and long-term relationship growth.