Career Relationships are the Key to Success
February 2009
With Valentine’s Day in our recent memory, it is the season to talk about relationships. Are your work relationships productive? Do you have work relationships that provide the mentoring and career guidance you need? Do you have work relationships where you provide the mentoring and career guidance for others?
Technical knowledge – being technically great at whatever it is that you do – will only take you so far in your career. Without productive career relationships, you may not reach the goals that you have for your career…or your life.
Five Keys to Building Relationships
1. Have your 10 second introduction ready to go.
Be ready to begin building a new relationship whenever you meet someone new. Have your introduction ready to go. Know who you are, what you do and how to share it with others.
2. Get involved – volunteer for company activities, community activities, professional associations, learning opportunities, etc.
Relationships are built around shared experiences and common interests. Free yourself up to engage with others in settings outside of a project or a workgroup meeting. Gather at the water cooler, go along when a group goes to lunch or enjoy happy hour once in a while.
3. Be a resource to others and use your network as a resource.
Freely share and give to others. If you become a resource to others, they will become a resource to you. Holly Stewart McMahon of the American Bar Association says it best: “Energy abounds when you volunteer — do it now.” Volunteer your experiences, knowledge and network to help others and you’ll find a career full of energy and on the path you desire.
4. Really get to know others-build the relationship by making real connections that involve trust, reciprocity and genuine caring.
Work relationships are productive when you understand the other person – when you know how to help them or they know how to help you. You may have heard that 70 percent of jobs are found through networking. Getting to know others is the foundation of networking and can lead us to where we want to go in our careers.
5. Follow up and follow through.
Be dependable and responsible. When you make a commitment to someone, be sure you follow through. When you meet someone new in your business, follow up with him or her later…if only to say, “it was nice to meet you and I hope we connect again in the future.” Those who follow up and follow through will be remembered.
Take a few extra minutes today to…
■Think through your introduction. Be ready for when you meet someone new.
■Follow up with someone you have not connected with in a while…but know you should have. Make a connection!
Make relationship building a priority on your way to a healthy, fit and full of energy career.
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