Anchor your relationships with good habits

Relationships are the key to business success.

Sales people know the power of good relationships.
Job seekers know that relationships make finding a job easier.

It's a proven fact that keeping strong relationships makes for better results. If for example, you work inside a company and you want to get things done in a timely manner, you need good relationships and collaboration. Or say you're a leader who wants to keep your employees productive and happy at your workplace, consider that good relationships are the KEY to retention.

Here are three powerful tips to building and keeping good relationships.

1. Be the first to give.
Much like the rule of being the first to follow up when you meet someone at an event, being the first to give follows the same logic. Give to people in your relationships. It doesn't have to be a new car, it can be as simple as giving them the name of the person they wanted to meet. It could also mean giving them a prospect or information that will be helpful for doing their job. Make yourself valuable in the relationship. Giving your opinion is another great way to be the first to give.

2. Do what you say you're going to do.
This sounds so easy but it doesn't always happen. I know I personally get busy and find that I have emails that have lagged for too long. This is not ideal, but sometimes it happens. Being reliable and responsible is a way to secure a solid relationship. So, when I realize it's been more than a few days or a week to get back to a person, I apologize and I deliver on what I said I was going to do or what they have asked of me. So when you say, "I will connect you to my friend who works at..... company." Follow through. People remember who does what they promise and how you treat them.

3. Be thankful. There's so much written about showing gratitude and being thankful that many people gloss over the power of being thankful. People do business with people they know, like and trust. And saying you're grateful to people you work with or do business with makes a difference. Sure we can have our food delivered, withdraw money and never talk to a human being or order anything online, but people like to work with people they trust. Being thankful and showing genuine appreciation and caring anchors your relationships and makes them more productive. In workplaces, people leave bad managers before they will leave someone who cares about them and appreciates them.
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