How To Create Meaningful Business Connections To Empower Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Summary: 

Do you find it hard to know how to connect with other business people in a way that feels meaningful and empowering? Most people try to build business connections by pitching their products or services, but this often feels pushy and unfulfilling.

The key to building meaningful business connections is to focus on providing value first. When you provide genuine support and assistance, the other person will see you as a valuable resource. From there, you can begin to develop a more meaningful connection.

Here are a few tips to get started!

You need to associate with people who inspire you, challenge you to rise higher, and make you better. You do not have time to waste on people that do not add to your growth because your destiny is too important. -Joel Olsteen.

Joel Osteen is referring to all people in general. We are discussing more specifically within your small business and how to create meaningful business connections that can empower your entrepreneurial journey. It is important because a meaningful business connection can add value to your business with support, advice, doors opening, and resources. 

These people celebrate your successes as if the successes were their own, and you need them in your business life. [psst … you need more than one!] Everything can come easier, and your success journey can happen quickly when you have these business connections. 

Three Tips On How To Create Meaningful Business Connections To Empower Your Entrepreneurial Journey

1. Who are these people?

They are natural connectors and most likely active in their industry and organizations. They seem to know a variety of people naturally because they are not afraid of making relationships and aren’t afraid to pay it forward. This is part of their skill set that makes them great connectors. 

They are humble. They are not doing what they are doing for fame or adoration, but they are doing it because of their ‘why.’ They are fulfilled in seeing others succeed. You’ll notice their humility because it makes them appear more approachable.

They have an abundant mindset. They believe there is enough to go around, they’ve hit a certain level of success for themselves, and they are willing to share. They are not worried about there not being enough for their business and themselves that they will even see value in advising their competitor. These relationships are often not a 50/50 equation; their expectation is only of giving, not receiving. 

They will celebrate your wins. Somebody is willing to celebrate the success of others even if their success is on a plateau and they don’t personally feel successful themselves. This is a true giving spirit. Within our community of entrepreneurs, we come together to build meaningful business connections. We are there for each other in–

• Support
• Advice
• Sharing resources.
• Championing the success of each other.

We believe everyone can give abundantly and want you to be around those that celebrate with you. Try to look for somebody, a group, or a community that embodies that generosity.

2. How do you create this meaningful business connection?

Sometimes these connections are not a 50/50 relationship, and the person you are trying to build a business connection with brings more to the table than you do. 

That’s okay! Don’t let that fact deter you from furthering the relationship, but you need to be more intentional with the value you are providing back to them. If you have a meaningful connection and they are providing any of the following to you–

• Support
• Resources
• Introductions to colleagues that will help you on your journey

You want to make sure that you support that action by doing other things for them in appreciation. [write a thank you card or send a $5 gift card to Starbucks]. This is important when a relationship is not balanced, and it fuels their fire!

3. Close the loop.

Close the loop simply means you need to take action if you’re going to receive advice, resources, and connections from a business connection.

There’s nothing worse than feeling like what you shared has fallen on deaf ears. I am not saying to do exactly what they say to do. You might choose to do something in contrast to what they suggested. If the support and advice have helped you clarify the situation and the contrasting action was made clear, then that is action!

To close the loop, come back and let them know how it went, what you learned, and clarify what they appreciated the most from their interaction. 

4. Stay in touch.

Understand that as your success grows, your time demands grow too. When that happens, you have to be more intentional about following up with people, nurturing relationships, and staying in touch. Whether you meet once a month, once a quarter, or a simple message to see how they are.

We talk about how critical touchpoints are with our clients, but it is equally important with our business connections because you’re building a relationship. Don’t allow something to wither away because you are too busy. 

Be intentional about keeping up with your relationships.

5. What do you do if things change?

What do you do when the relationship you are trying to build doesn’t go as planned?

Be gracious and grateful even though the relationship isn’t going the way you hoped because a million things can impact a relationship [99.9% of them are out of your control]. If a relationship changes and proves that it is not a good fit, it’s okay to say, “I received so much value from this, and I appreciate it, but I can see how we are growing in a different direction.” You can achieve this with grace, and you need to bring closure so it doesn't feel like the relationship is being left hanging or ignored.

It’s wise to approach these situations with grace, gratitude, and clarity about what it is that you need to do next.

Wrapping It Up

We talked about many ways to create meaningful connections that genuinely empower your entrepreneurial journey because your destiny is too important! You cannot waste time surrounding yourself with people that are not going to help you grow on your journey. We shared how you’re going to identify these people, the steps to take so you can create a lasting and meaningful business connection and what you do when the relationship changes.

You can build these business connections in many different ways, and they can empower your business! 

Are you having trouble finding people that fit what I have said? Find time on my schedule and let's chat so I can help get you plugged in!

This article first appeared on the Your Biz Rules blog. For the full article and accompanying video, head to: https://www.yourbizrules.com/how-to-create-meaningful-business-connections-to-empower-your-entrepreneurial-journey/