Why Building strong professional relationships is Essential for LinkedIn growth and success?

Why Building strong professional relationships is Essential for LinkedIn growth and success?

A professional relationship is how we connect with people in business. Think differently about how professional relationships work as opposed to our personal relationships with family and friends, which are based on different needs, including emotional support.

Quality business relationships are based on mutual respect of our different skills, shared goals, and a commitment to contributing positively to each other's professional and business growth and success.

Establishing such relationships involves consistent communication, reliability, and the ability to work together.

Professional relationships serve as the foundation of successful careers and businesses. They enable business owners to build trusted teams with varied skills to help achieve more and move business goals and complete projects faster.

“The richest people in the world look for and build networks; everyone else looks for work.”

– Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad

Considering various types of professional relationships.

Mentor-Mastermind Groups: Advice from people who are ahead of you in business can help you make progress and also support you when you might be doubting yourself .

10% Rule: Have you ever thought if you have LinkedIn connections that help you continually improve by 10%, at the end of the year you will have made sizable progress.

Accountability Buddies : Have you colleagues that you can share your goals with and who can you help achieve them by truthfully telling you when you are making mistakes, or help you get back on track with a sense of humour

Peer Relationships: Are there other business owners in a similiar place to you, that can offer you support. For example you want to buy something for your business and you can discuss what they use and are they happy with it or not.

Manager/ Employee: Great to give you feedback as our work environment adapts and changes. Can help with what's working and what's not.

Client-Service Provider Relationships: Critical for people like me consultants, freelancers, and businesses focusing on providing a great service and customer satisfaction.

Professional Network Contacts: A broad category of individuals we meet through conferences or on LinkedIn who can offer industry insights or send you recommendations for new business or jobs.

Working on projects: For example a webdesigner working with a copywriter to get a project completed-learning from each other.

Advisory Relationships: Can be formal or informal, providing advice to guide decision-making and speed up the process.

Each relationship is vital to achieving business can career goals.

“Effective networking is not a result of luck – it’s a methodical process of building mutually beneficial relationships.”

– Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and Co-Founder of Ellevest

Some examples of professional relationships

Mentor-MasterMind: A senior freelance trainer, advising junior freelancer at an earlier stage of their career, helping them improve their current work and professional development.

Peer Relationship: Two graphic designers working in the same company but on different projects share what has worked and not support each other through challenges, and help with problems if that is with new software they both use. Or teach each other tips to speed up the work process.

Project Manager - Employee: A project manager regularly meets with their team members to set goals, provide performance feedback, what can be improved and discuss career growth creating a supportive and growth-oriented workplace.

Client-Service Provider Relationship: A freelance trainer and content creator like me maintains a professional relationship with an ongoing client by delivering high-quality work on time. Understanding the client’s needs, and communicating effectively the success stories and when needed, dealing with problems in a timely manner.

LinkedIn Network Contacts: After connecting at a conference, two remote working people stay in touch via LinkedIn, sharing industry news and occasionally referring business opportunities to each other.

Cross-Departmental Relationship: A remote work professional and software professional work together to create a system that creates a more productive work environment and not losing time with mundane tasks that can be automated.

Advisory Relationship: A startup founder meets with a business support network which includes experienced entrepreneurs , accountants , marketing experts, who can help the founder move their business forward.

These examples show you the benefits of cultivating a wide variety of professional relationships.

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.

– Henry Ford

“Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity and time”

– Alan Collins

Principles for Building Professional Relationships

Trust: Is the foundation of any relationship, professional or otherwise. It’s built over time through consistent actions, reliability, and integrity. When trust exists, it creates a safe environment for sharing ideas that encourage innovations, which is vital for business in a fast changing world.

Effective communication is critical: This involves not only how you convey your thoughts and ideas and how actively you listen. Understanding and being understood is essential to learn how you can help your connection and they can help you.

Mutual Respect: Professional relationships thrive when both parties respect each other’s expertise, time, and contributions. This respect creates an environment where ideas can be exchanged freely, work can get done and problems can be managed constructively.

Reciprocity: A give-and-take approach, where both parties benefit from the relationship, is essential. Whether it is sharing knowledge, providing support, or offering opportunities, reciprocity ensures that the relationship is balanced and valuable to all involved.

Empathy and Understanding: Recognizing and acknowledging the challenges, pressures, and successes of others builds deeper connections. A stronger desire to work with you or you to be part of a trusted business team.

Common Goals and Values: Aligning networking goals and values helps drive relationships forward.

Whether it’s a shared mission in a project or similar career aspirations, this alignment strengthens the bond between professionals.

By focusing on these essential ingredients you can create professional relationships that are not only beneficial but also enduring.

Professional relationships -Some tips to help you build and keep your valuable connections.

Be Authentic: Let your genuine interests, values, and personality shine through in your professional interactions. People like to work with people who they can relate to

Show appreciation and Respect: For other's skills , ideas, and achievements. Truly listening to others demonstrates respect for their perspective. Demonstrating genuine interest: in others’ work shows that you value them beyond mere work transactions. Engaging in conversations beyond immediate work topics can enrich relationships.

Offering something of value: Without expecting anything in return bolsters your professional relationships. Introducing contacts to each other when you see mutual benefit helps build a supportive network.

Schedule regular check-ins: With your network to keep the relationship alive. Acknowledge and celebrate their achievements with a congratulatory note.

Be committed and relaible: If you say you will do something, make sure you do it. Consistency builds a reputation of reliability, making others more inclined to maintain a relationship with you and want you to be part of their trusted business network.

Your Professional Network , can increase your career fulfillment and success.

Being surrounded by people that motivate you, can drive you to achieve more than ever imagined was possible

You should network with purpose, to create the right environment for your business success now and in the future. The modern world has many stresses and challenges for business and having the right people in your orbit can make all the difference for you.

Are you a Freelancer , Remote Worker Coach?

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