How do you maintain and nurture your existing contacts?

1 Identify your goals

Before you start building new relationships, or strengthening the ones you have, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. What are your reasons for reaching out to someone? What value can you offer them, and what value can you expect from them? How can you align your goals with theirs, and create a win-win situation? Having a specific and realistic goal in mind will help you focus your efforts and communicate your intentions more effectively.

3 Reach out and follow up

The next step is to initiate contact and establish a connection. Depending on the context and the level of formality, you can use different channels, such as email, phone, video call, or face-to-face meeting. The key is to be respectful, polite, and professional, and to show genuine interest and curiosity. You should also have a clear purpose and a call to action for your communication, such as asking for advice, feedback, collaboration, or referral. After you have made contact, you should follow up promptly and regularly, to keep the conversation going and to show your appreciation and commitment.

4 Provide value and support

One of the best ways to build trust and loyalty in your relationships is to provide value and support to your contacts. This means that you should not only focus on what you can get from them, but also on what you can give to them. You can provide value and support in various ways, such as sharing useful information, resources, or opportunities, offering your expertise or assistance, giving recognition or praise, or sending a thoughtful gift or gesture. By doing so, you will demonstrate your generosity and goodwill, and create a positive impression and a lasting bond.

5 Listen and empathize

Another essential skill for relationship building is listening and empathizing. This means that you should pay attention to what your contacts say, and how they say it, and try to understand their perspective, feelings, and motivations. You should also ask open-ended questions, reflect back what you hear, and acknowledge their emotions and concerns. By listening and empathizing, you will show your respect and care, and make your contacts feel heard and valued.

6 Adapt and grow

Finally, you should be ready to adapt and grow as your relationships evolve. This means that you should be flexible and responsive to the changing needs and expectations of your contacts, and to the feedback and suggestions they give you. You should also seek to learn from your experiences, and to improve your skills and strategies over time. By adapting and growing, you will show your willingness and ability to cope with challenges and opportunities, and to maintain and nurture your relationships in the long term.