Keeping in Touch: The key to maintaining connections

Recently, I had a conversation with one of my besties, and we were discussing our strengths while identifying areas where we differ as individuals. Interestingly, she mentioned that I excel at making friends because I have a knack for deep connections and engaging conversations. In response, I pointed out that I am better at maintaining friendships because I actively “keep in touch.”

It’s not surprising that over the years, I have developed lifelong friendships, formed partnerships, and even built communities simply by reaching out and saying, “Hello, just checking in on you.”

Keeping in touch is an often overlooked skill when it comes to building relationships, whether they are personal or professional. In fact, it serves as the foundation for successful partnership development and management strategies. If we were to use more formal terminology, we could refer to “keeping in touch” as stakeholder or partner engagement, but why complicate matters unnecessarily?

When discussing partner engagement, we define it as the process of organizing, monitoring and improving relationships with partners. It involves identifying partners, understanding their needs and expectations, and planning and implementing various activities to engage with them. However, the problem arises when we become too formal, only reaching out when we have a specific need and losing sight of the importance of building connections and ensuring our partners feel valued.

Why should we keep in touch?

The most obvious reason to maintain regular contact with your network is that it enhances partnership engagement. However, there are several additional reasons why keeping in touch is important:

1. Regular communication fosters trust and rapport between partners. By staying in touch, we demonstrate our commitment and dedication to the partnership, showing that we value and prioritise it.
2. Effective partnerships rely on seamless collaboration, and keeping in touch facilitates this process. Regular communication allows partners to share ideas, align their goals, and address any concerns or conflicts that may arise.
3. When partners keep in touch, they can identify potential issues before they become major problems and find mutually beneficial solutions, ensuring the partnership remains resilient and successful.
4. Opportunities often arise unexpectedly, and staying in touch with partners increases the chances of capitalising on them. Regular communication keeps everyone informed and creates a culture of shared growth and exploration.
5. Partnerships thrive on emotional connections, and keeping in touch plays a significant role in nurturing these connections. Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, acknowledging achievements, or simply checking in on a personal level demonstrates care and empathy.

A practical guide to keeping in touch:

While many of us understand the importance and benefits of staying in touch with our network, knowing how to do it effectively can be a challenge. Finding the right balance between maintaining contact and not being overly intrusive is key. Depending on the context, it can be a fine line to walk, but it’s not as difficult as it may seem. Here are some practical tips for keeping your partner network warm:

1. Interact with them online — Are you following your partner organisations on all available platforms? If not, do so now! Ensure you follow your partner organisations on all available platforms. This keeps you informed about any updates or information that can serve as a prompt to reach out to them. Personally, I find setting up Google alerts for some partners helpful in staying up to date.
2. Set reminders: For the people in your network with whom you aren’t able to engage online through social media posts, set calendar reminders every three to six months to send them a quick note. It can be as simple as saying hello!
3. Utilise special occasions: Birthdays, anniversaries, events, and holidays provide great opportunities to drop your partners a note. This approach is particularly effective because you have a legitimate reason to reach out to them without asking for anything in return.
4. Personalise your communication. Tailor your communication to each individual partner. Recognise their preferences and communication styles, and adapt your approach accordingly. A personalised touch enhances the quality of interaction and strengthens relationships.
5. Plan Face-to-Face Interactions. While most communication has shifted to virtual platforms due to the pandemic, face-to-face meetings have not lost their appeal. Planning occasional in-person meetings provides an opportunity for deeper engagement and can solidify trust and rapport.
6. Practice active listening: Effective communication involves actively listening to your partners. During meetings, take note of ways you can assist them, even if it’s as simple as providing information they may be seeking or introducing them to someone outside their network who can help them achieve their goals.

Truthfully, keeping in touch can sometimes feel awkward, especially if it doesn’t come naturally to you. However, it remains imperative to do so. Yes, sending a “hello” message randomly (in addition to your group emails) may seem strange at first, but consider how much that simple message could catalyse further collaboration.

If the cost is a little awkward embarrassment every three to six months or so, then I believe it’s well worth it.