by Deborah J. Hodges
This article was updated from its original publication a few years ago.
Are you good at building relationships with others? If you are on a team, or a leader, a manager, board member, or committee member and wonder how it could work better, or you’re curious about the right ingredients before you enter into one, here are a few tips and behaviors to help make the relationship successful.
The two main ingredients to developing a good relationship are:
- Managing the relationship, and
- Establishing trust with each other.
These can be achieved by following a few simple rules and by establishing your expectations early with others. It sounds easy and reasonable; however, often, the most straightforward items are ignored or taken for granted in a relationship. Check out this article on How to Run a Succesful Meeting- Easy as ABC?
How receptive are you to receiving feedback? Being open to feedback is essential when building and managing the relationship. A three-year study by Leadership IQ, a global leadership training and research company, revealed that 26% of new hires fail because they can’t accept feedback. Only 11% were found to lack the necessary technical skills. This study compiled results from more than 5,000 managers and 300 public, private, and business organizations. The ability to accept and implement feedback from others is vital to leadership success and, critical to obtaining the maximum benefits of building positive relationships.
Just what does it mean to manage the partnership or relationship and who is responsible for doing it? Successful relationships are looked at as partnerships, even though one partner can be more experienced than the other. All participants have a responsibility to keep the relationship on track.
Here are ten steps for building and making relationship:
- Be an active listener – ask questions and offer suggestions.
- Be open and honest – share ideas and appropriate information for the situation.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding any shared information.
- Establish a time to discuss ideas and interests together.
- Be on time for your meetings.
- Communicate in advance meeting times, including how often you want to talk or meet with each other.
- Develop an emergency plan for accessibility – share a mobile number to call or text when a critical need arises.
- Follow-up with each other regularly – get an update on what they are doing and celebrate successes.
- Manage your thoughts and feelings – be aware of your words and ideas.
- Be respectful – do not take the relationship for granted – listen more and talk less.
Several years ago, when working with an organization, I launched a mentoring program for developing leaders after completing a nearly two-year research study and found these behaviors helpful in building relationships. Check out these behaviors.
They build positive and professional links with people.
As an organizational communication professional, it is essential to build positive relationships to be an effective leader and when working with others, in my opinion. Check your thoughts and how they are framed when discussing a problem or sensitive issue. Making and building relationships is not a one-time event. It takes time and effort that successful leaders carry through to leadership and making collegial relationships.
Did you miss our article on How to Make Sure Your Strategic Plan Doesn’t Fall Flat
Photo by © Opolja
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Deborah J. Hodges, MA, is a skilled strategist, marketer, and communications expert. She served on several executive boards such as Chicago Health Executives Forum, Society of Marketing Professional Services, American College of Healthcare Executives, Regent’s Advisory Council, Construction Marketing Association, Chicago Engineers Foundation, and serves as an advisor to several enterprises. She served as the Executive Director for the Construction Writers Association for six years, working with its stellar board and membership before its merger with a major national association. Deborah was the director of marketing for five major design firms before launching Golden Square in 2008.
About Golden Square
Golden Square, a creative branding and marketing consultancy, provides scalable marketing and management solutions that focus on your association’s goals when you need it the most. From the starting point, we help define goals, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and processes to reach and optimize your initiatives. We have a proven record of success in board development, membership attainment, donor development, community outreach, educational marketing, marketing, social media, revenue generation, and more. We elevate your organization in its specific competency and create a top of mind presence as the point-of-authority and premier organization. It’s branding, communications and marketing with you in mind.®
For more information, visit www.GoldenSquare.biz. Let’s start a chat. Contact Jeffrey A. Kramer, FACHE, CAE or Deborah Hodges, MA, President & Managing Principal at info@GoldenSquare.biz or by telephone at 312.675.6080