Originally posted on AMA Baltimore‘s blog, Forming and Maintaing Connections – Success Lies Ahead (Relationship Building Tips)
To be completely honest, the key to successful relationships is at your fingertips. Literally. Take a moment and think about the three following actions:
- Shaking hands with an acquaintance
- Sending a followup email days after you recently connected with someone
- Dialing a phone number and calling a person who you haven’t spoken with in a while
While these three actions seem extremely basic, they’re often the hardest steps in building a successful relationship. I get it, we’re all busy. But it’s necessary to follow these three actions similar to those that we perform on a daily basis (I hope!). I’m referring to the directions on the back of a shampoo bottle: rinse, lather, and repeat. We can all agree that those are relatively simple directions, correct? And we all follow them, right?
Well, particular to the Baltimore Chapter of the American Marketing Association, it’s critical to shake hands with fellow acquaintances, send followup emails, and call those who you haven’t spoken to in a while. Attend some of our upcoming events and make sure that you implement these three actions in your daily routine. Believe me, you’ll be happy you did.
According to Merriam-Webster, networking is defined as:
“The exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”
How many people do you regularly interact on a daily basis and exchange information with?
- Cashier at the grocery store
- Server at the local restaurant
- Teller at the bank
- Bartender at the bar
- Attendant at the gas station
- Barista at the coffee shop
- Stylist at the salon
These are all examples of individuals that you’re constantly interacting and sharing information with. As time passes, you become closer with these acquaintances and soon they become your friends. You share your personal experiences – a recent promotion at your job, family news, upcoming vacations, etc.
With advances to today’s technology, it’s that much simpler to stay in touch with our connections and build meaningful relationships.
As the title of this post suggests, Success Lies Ahead (Relationship Building Tips). So, are you going to carve time out of your day and exchange stories with your friends, family, and colleagues? If so, congrats! You’ve achieved part of the success. But, are you willing to drive down the two-way street? Are you going to reciprocate and listen to the stories which your friends, family, and colleagues have to share? Pat yourself on the back, you’re getting closer to achieving a greater success. Now it’s time to throw in the kicker. Be genuine. Take a vested interest in others. Believe it or not, the Bronx actress, Jennifer Lopez, sheds light on this matter:
“You get what you give. What you put into things is what you get out of them.”
This is the epitome of relationship building.
Are you interested in building meaningful relationships with local marketers as well as learning about the latest and greatest trends in marketing? Go ahead, contact me:
I’d love to hear more about your relationship building success stories and get to know you on a personal level. And when we do connect, I’ll expand on how fortunate I’ve been with landing my current job, expanding my network, and the educational experiences over the last few years – many which can be attributed to AMA Baltimore.
Happy marketing and enjoy the rest of your week!
Dov Hoffman's Insights 