Regardless of what you do for a living, you must invest in growing a professional network that consists of people who can provide valuable support throughout your career. After all, the ability to build networks is crucial in your professional journey, so you will need to know how to nurture such a skill.
Then again, not everyone can provide you with the encouragement and inspiration you need to build yourself up. Some may even take advantage of your weaknesses instead of bolstering your strengths. Healthy relationships with co-workers and business partners thrive on trust, so you will need to make this the center of your desire to reach out.
Here are a few tips to help you build trustworthy connections and grow a network of advocates:
1- Be transparent and honest
Building relationships begins with adopting a mindset that’s anchored on honesty. People value honesty more than anything else. Hiding behind a veil won’t do anything but create a barrier and turn a potential connection off.
No one likes to be lied to, so you will need to show transparency especially when you are communicating your feelings. If you are asked to give an opinion, show them what you feel but in a sensitive way. If you are going to make a sales pitch, be clear about your objective.
2- Be serious with your commitments
Apart from honesty, it’s also important that you follow through with any commitments you make with another person, and this includes important appointments. Nothing can annoy an employer or business partner more than tardiness. If you have agreed to meet on a specific schedule, you will need to go there before the designated time since it’s part of business etiquette. Beyond these rules, you also need to respect other people’s time. Agreeing to a meeting demonstrates your willingness to make a connection. Failing to accomplish such a commitment will only cause the other person to question your sincerity.
This also applies to handling important errands. You wouldn’t want to finish the task after the deadline passes, especially if it’s at the expense of another person’s time. When you make commitments, honor them and follow through. If you don’t feel that committing is possible, say “no” or provide a reasonable alternative.
3- Develop your communication skills
The way you communicate impacts how another person perceives your motives. There are verbal and non-verbal cues that observant people watch out for. If you cross your arms, for instance, you convey insecurity, impatience, and even discomfort.
The words you use will also give the other person a glimpse at your attitude. Empathic verbal and non-verbal language can help prevent ambiguity and allow you to engage another person in a way that pulls them towards you. Regardless of who you are dealing with, keep an open mind and never let your emotions dictate how you talk to the other person.
4- Share your knowledge and experience
It’s one thing to be knowledgeable in your field of expertise, but it’s another to share what you know with others. Don’t back away from an opportunity to help someone who doesn’t know the concepts that revolve around the industry. Treat them as people who need guidance.
For example, if you’re in the financial services space with clients interested in alternative investment opportunities then you have an opportunity to share your knowledge with them. Give them the information you have for free to help them make the best possible decision. For example, if a client wants to invest in cryptocurrency markets for the first time then you have an opportunity to give them all the pros and cons. Help educate them with what they can gain and what they can lose by investing. This builds trust which is imperative to building a long term relationship.
Educating others shows your desire to be transparent and opens you up to more opportunities for building new connections.
5- Research the person
As you grow your network, you still need to know if you can trust the people you are reaching out to. If you are about to sign a multi-million dollar contract, don’t focus on the talking points the other person throws at you. It’s still important to know if they have had a clean record. As much as you want to be empathetic, you still need to keep your best interests in mind and prevent yourself from getting duped.
You can use platforms like Instant Checkmate to view public criminal records before deciding to hire a candidate. When it comes to personal connections, consider viewing their social media profiles and pay attention to the public posts that they make.
6- Check for red flags
When it comes to knowing if a person is trustworthy, there are several red flags to watch out for. Listen to the person and pay attention to the words they are using. You will know they’re untrustworthy if they are using flattery to hide their true intentions.
It’s also important to check how the person handles their network. If you have mutual connections with that person, try to ask them about their experiences. You will know if making a connection is worth it or not based on their feedback.
Whether you are reaching out to other entrepreneurs or finding possible mentors in your area of expertise, you will need to make trust the important ingredient in your efforts. Begin by applying these tips that will help you get better at building trust.
Joseph Yaghi
Latest posts by Joseph Yaghi (see all)
- 5 Tips to Forming Professional Relationships Built On Trust - January 26, 2022
- How to Build and Grow Trustworthy Networks - January 15, 2022
- How to Create a Calming Home While Working From Home - December 22, 2021
