Here's how you can avoid common mistakes when building relationships in mid-career.

2 Reciprocity Rule

The principle of reciprocity is powerful in relationship building. It's the idea that if you do something beneficial for someone, they are likely to want to reciprocate. In mid-career, it's easy to fall into transactional networking—connecting only when you need something. To avoid this, consistently offer your help and support to others without immediately expecting anything in return. This builds goodwill and trust, which can lead to more robust and meaningful professional relationships over time.

3 Adapt and Grow

Flexibility is key in maintaining and developing new relationships. As you progress through your career, industries evolve, and so should your relationship-building strategies. Be open to adapting your approach based on current trends and the diverse preferences of new contacts. For instance, younger colleagues might prefer digital communication over traditional face-to-face meetings. Staying adaptable demonstrates that you're not stuck in your ways and are willing to meet others halfway.

6 Reflect Regularly

Finally, take time to reflect on your relationship-building efforts. Mid-career professionals often have busy schedules, but it's important to periodically assess the health of your network. Are there relationships that need more attention? Are there people you've lost touch with that could provide mutual benefits if reconnected? Reflection allows you to strategically plan your networking activities and ensures that you're not just building relationships for the sake of it but nurturing those that align with your values and career aspirations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?