UNLOCKING SUCCESS: OVERCOMING THE INABILITY TO BUILD STRONG PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

 

Introduction:

Have you ever wondered why you feel others get along well in existing and new professional relationships and networks while you struggle to make meaningful professional connections? Building strong professional relationships isn’t just a career growth requirement; it’s essential for long-term success. Yet, many people feel stuck, finding it hard to turn brief interactions, conversations and engagements into lasting, mutually beneficial connections.

If you relate with this, you’re not alone. In today’s evolving work culture, finding common ground, making memorable impressions, and maintaining connections that add value to your career can be daunting. But here’s the good news: building strong professional relationships is a skill to be developed over time, not just a personality trait. You can cultivate and maintain valuable connections that will enhance your career with the right strategies.

In this article, we’ll explore why strong relationships matter, identify common challenges, and provide practical tips to help you overcome barriers and build meaningful, lasting connections in your professional life; that is required for your career growth.

Professional relationships go far beyond just exchanging business cards or LinkedIn connections. They’re the backbone of career success, giving you access to new opportunities, resources, and mentorship. 

Why Building Strong Professional Relationships Matter

- Career Growth: Many roles, especially at senior levels, are usually filled through referrals and recommendations rather than public postings.

- Resource Sharing: A well-connected network can provide industry insights, updates, support and wealth of knowledge required to be successful in one's chosen profession.

- Mentorship and Advice: Building relationships with mentors and experienced colleagues helps you learn from their experiences and avoid common pitfalls.  This is one special way you can skip the challenges associated with your area of endeavor.

In short, strong relationships are essential to a successful, fulfilling career. But just to ask, what makes them so hard to build?

Common Challenges in Building Professional Relationships

1. Social Anxiety and Shyness: Feeling nervous in new environments can make it difficult to start conversations or feel comfortable in networking situations.

2. Lack of Consistency: Relationships need time and regular effort to grow. Many people struggle to stay in touch over a period of time, leading to a disconnect.

3. Fear of Rejection: It’s normal to worry about not being liked or accepted, especially by more senior colleagues or influential contacts - but it is important to give it a shot with a simple interaction.

4. Busy Schedules: With deadlines and heavy workloads, dedicating time to networking often falls by the wayside.  It is important to make time for it, no matter how small.

5. Lack of Purposeful Interactions: Without clear intentions, many networking attempts can feel superficial, making it hard to foster deeper connections.  Let the interaction be relevant to your goals and do not let extraneous issues take the center stage of your interactions.

 

Now that we’ve outlined some of the common challenges, let’s dive into the actionable steps that can help you build stronger, lasting professional relationships.

1. Develop Active Listening Skills

One of the best ways to forge a meaningful connection is by genuinely listening to what the other person has to say. Active listening entails:

- Focusing on the Speaker: Avoid distractions like checking your phone or planning what you’ll say next.

- Asking Follow-Up Questions: Show interest by asking questions that encourage the other person to expand on their ideas and what they have been saying earlier.

- Mirroring Body Language: This can subconsciously convey understanding and empathy.

 

When you listen actively, you make people feel valued, which lays the foundation for strong relationships.

2. Show Empathy and Understanding

Empathy can transform relationships. When you take the time to understand others’ challenges and offer support, people are more likely to see you as someone they can depend on.

- Put Yourself in Their Shoes: Consider the challenges and goals of the person you’re interacting with and strive to be part of the solution they are looking for.

- Offer Help: If you can assist in even small ways, it creates a foundation of trust and goodwill.

- Follow Up on Previous Conversations: If someone mentioned a goal or a challenge, check in later to see how they’re progressing and show desire to have them achieve this goal. This shows that you care beyond the surface level.

 

3. Make the Effort to Stay in Touch

Strong relationships require consistency. A simple check-in can certainly go a long way in keeping connections alive.

- Schedule Regular Check-Ins: Set reminders to reach out to key contacts every few months.

- Share Useful Resources: Send articles, podcasts, or industry news that you think your contact would find valuable, to keep your mutual interaction going.

- Celebrate Milestones: Congratulate connections on promotions, birthdays, or work anniversaries. Small gestures of recognition are often appreciated and remembered.

 

4. Seek Out Mentorship Opportunities

Mentors provide insight, guidance, and a trusted sounding board. Building a relationship with a mentor or even becoming a mentor yourself can help you expand your professional network and create deep, meaningful relationships.

- Be Open to Learning: Approach potential mentors with a willingness to be available, learn and listen.

- Ask Thoughtful Questions: Show that you value their insight by asking for specific advice on career growth or skills that you need to move to the next level in your career.

- Share Your Successes: Keep your mentor informed of your progress and show appreciation for their role in the progress that you have made. It helps deepen the relationship and lets them see the impact of their guidance.

5. Add Value Before Asking for Favors

Strong relationships are built on a foundation of mutual benefit. One way to build lasting relationships is by offering help many times, before you ask for something in return.

- Provide Relevant Information: Share helpful information or insights related to the other person’s work, goals or interests.

- Offer Help on Projects: Volunteering your expertise can make you a memorable and valued contact. Sometimes your intention to help leaves a lasting impression.

- Support Their Goals: If you know someone is working towards a specific goal, offer support or encouragement.

 

Adding value creates a foundation for a reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationship.

6. Leverage Networking Events Wisely

Whether virtual or in-person, networking events are a great opportunity to meet like-minded professionals. However, aim to make quality connections rather than just quantity.  A single contact who shares your interests is worth many others who may not add value to you.

- Have a Plan: Set goals for the event, such as connecting with three new people or learning about a specific industry by the end of the event.

- Follow Up After the Event: Send a personalized message within 48 hours. Mention something specific from your conversation to help them remember you.  You may also add an information received at the event which works for your common goals

- Keep It Natural: Rather than pushing an agenda, focus on genuine conversations. People are more likely to remember interactions that felt authentic.

 

7. Cultivate a Positive Reputation

People are more inclined to build relationships with those who are known for their reliability, kindness, and positive attitude.

- Be Reliable: Follow through on commitments, as dependability is highly valued.

- Express Gratitude: When someone helps you, express sincere appreciation.

- Keep a Positive Attitude: People are naturally drawn to positive, enthusiastic individuals, so let that shine through in your interactions.

 

Building a reputation as a supportive, helpful professional encourages others to reach out to you; even those you may not have met personally but have been referred by your contacts, and fosters stronger connections.

8. Embrace Continuous Self-Improvement

Finally, personal growth plays a big role in building strong relationships. The more confident and skilled you become, the easier it is to connect with others.

- Develop Emotional Intelligence: Being aware of your emotions and those of others can greatly improve interactions.  Let your self-awareness be a priority.

- Seek Feedback: Asking for feedback on your interactions can reveal areas for improvement.

- Learn from Each Interaction: Reflect on your conversations to understand what went well and what you could improve next time.

 

By focusing on growth, you become a more attractive connection, and your professional relationships will benefit as a result.

Conclusion

Building strong professional relationships takes quite some effort, but the rewards are worth it. By actively listening, showing empathy, maintaining consistency, seeking mentorship, adding value, and continuously improving yourself, you can overcome the barriers to building meaningful, lasting professional connections. Each relationship you build is a step toward a more rewarding and successful career.

So, start small—reach out to people, connect, and invest in building relationships that will propel your career forward. Remember, the network you build today could be the foundation of your career success tomorrow.