Latest / The Confident Entrepreneur With Jennifer Ann Johnson / The Quiet Power of Business Relationships
Transcript
- 0:37Jennifer Johnson: Today, we're diving into a topic that's at the heart of every thriving business: building strong relationships.
- 0:43Jennifer Johnson: In the world of business, your ability to form and nurture meaningful relationships can be the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving.
- 0:52Jennifer Johnson: Whether it's with clients, partners, colleagues, or mentors, strong relationships are the foundation of business success.
- 0:59Jennifer Johnson: So let's explore how you can master that art of building lasting business relationships.
- 1:05Jennifer Johnson: Before we dive into the how, let's quickly touch on the why, why business relationships are so crucial.
- 1:12Jennifer Johnson: Number one, trust and loyalty.
- 1:15Jennifer Johnson: Strong relationships build trust, which leads to customer loyalty and long-term partnerships.
- 1:21Jennifer Johnson: Then there's opportunities.
- 1:22Jennifer Johnson: Your network of relationships can open doors to new business opportunities.
- 1:27Jennifer Johnson: Support.
- 1:28Jennifer Johnson: You've often heard me talk about board of directors.
- 1:31Jennifer Johnson: This is exactly what I'm talking about.
- 1:33Jennifer Johnson: Strong relationships provide an invaluable support and resource to you as a business owner.
- 1:39Jennifer Johnson: And that goes hand in hand with knowledge sharing.
- 1:42Jennifer Johnson: Relationships facilitate the exchange of ideas and insights, which foster innovation and foster growth.
- 1:49Jennifer Johnson: And then personal fulfillment.
- 1:51Jennifer Johnson: Meaningful business relationships can lead to greater job satisfaction and personal growth.
- 1:57Jennifer Johnson: Now, let's dive into the core principles of how you build these strong relationships.
- 2:03Jennifer Johnson: Or honestly, really what those core principles are of how of building those strong relationships.
- 2:11Jennifer Johnson: So authenticity, being genuine in your interactions.
- 2:14Jennifer Johnson: People can sense when you're insecure from a mile away.
- 2:18Jennifer Johnson: It's the fastest way to really undermine any kind of relationship.
- 2:23Jennifer Johnson: Consistency.
- 2:24Jennifer Johnson: Always deliver on something that you promise and maintain that regular contact.
- 2:29Jennifer Johnson: Don't be the person that only shows up in someone's life when you need something.
- 2:35Jennifer Johnson: Mutual benefit.
- 2:37Jennifer Johnson: This goes hand in hand with what I just talked about.
- 2:39Jennifer Johnson: Strive for win-win.
- 2:41Jennifer Johnson: Because when both parties are happy in a relationship, that's when you both see all of the benefits.
- 2:50Jennifer Johnson: Empathy.
- 2:51Jennifer Johnson: Try to understand their perspective and their needs.
- 2:55Jennifer Johnson: It helps you connect on a deeper level and provide each other with real value.
- 3:00Jennifer Johnson: Patience.
- 3:01Jennifer Johnson: Building meaningful relationships take time.
- 3:05Jennifer Johnson: Don't expect that you're going to meet someone today and tomorrow they're going to be your best business BFF.
- 3:10Jennifer Johnson: It doesn't work that way.
- 3:11Jennifer Johnson: It takes time.
- 3:13Jennifer Johnson: And then respect.
- 3:14Jennifer Johnson: Treat everyone with respect, regardless of what their position is or what they can do for you.
- 3:19Jennifer Johnson: Just practice respect.
- 3:22Jennifer Johnson: So now you kind of understand the core of why they matter and the benefits, or not really the benefits, but the principles of building those relationships.
- 3:35Jennifer Johnson: Now let's talk about some practical ways that you can implement these to build and strengthen business relationships.
- 3:42Jennifer Johnson: First and foremost is active listening.
- 3:45Jennifer Johnson: Pay attention when people are speaking.
- 3:47Jennifer Johnson: Look them in the eye.
- 3:48Jennifer Johnson: Drop everything that you're doing.
- 3:50Jennifer Johnson: Turn off your phone and pay attention to that person.
- 3:53Jennifer Johnson: And you've probably heard me talk about the magic is in the follow-up, or you've heard somebody talk about it because a lot of people are talking about the magic is in the follow-up.
- 6:30Jennifer Johnson: After meetings or conversations, follow up.
- 6:33Jennifer Johnson: Send a thank you note.
- 6:35Jennifer Johnson: A thank you note in the mail.
- 6:38Jennifer Johnson: I love doing that because people don't expect that anymore.
- 6:41Jennifer Johnson: Now, of course, you can always send a text or you can send an email, but it's always very powerful to do that if you're actually sending them something in the mail.
- 6:50Jennifer Johnson: Provide value first.
- 6:51Jennifer Johnson: Look at ways that you can help them without expecting that they're going to give something back to you.
- 6:57Jennifer Johnson: Be responsive.
- 6:59Jennifer Johnson: Respond to the emails and the calls and messages as soon as you can.
- 7:04Jennifer Johnson: Even if you can't completely address what they're asking, at least just acknowledge it because that does go a long way.
- 7:10Jennifer Johnson: Celebrate their successes.
- 7:13Jennifer Johnson: Genuinely congratulate them on their achievements.
- 7:16Jennifer Johnson: Seeking feedback.
- 7:18Jennifer Johnson: Ask for honest feedback and allow them to ask you for honest feedback in something that they may be doing.
- 7:25Jennifer Johnson: Be a connector.
- 7:26Jennifer Johnson: I have so many people in my life that are connectors for me.
- 7:30Jennifer Johnson: They connect me with people that I otherwise would not have been connected with.
- 7:35Jennifer Johnson: And be that connector for other people.
- 7:39Jennifer Johnson: Show appreciation.
- 7:41Jennifer Johnson: Regularly express gratitude.
- 7:45Jennifer Johnson: Thank you.
- 7:46Jennifer Johnson: Thank you for doing this.
- 7:48Jennifer Johnson: Remembering personal details.
- 7:51Jennifer Johnson: Now, I know a lot of people think that this may be a thing of the past, and how is somebody going to remember it?
- 7:56Jennifer Johnson: But I am so impressed when somebody remembers something about me that's so personal, like a hobby or something about my family.
- 8:03Jennifer Johnson: It shows that I'm more than just a number to them.
- 8:06Jennifer Johnson: I matter.
- 8:07Jennifer Johnson: And then finally, being present.
- 8:11Jennifer Johnson: When you're with someone, give them their full your full attention.
- 8:15Jennifer Johnson: Like I talked about, put your phone downs and pay attention to them.
- 8:20Jennifer Johnson: Look them in the eye.
- 8:21Jennifer Johnson: Give them a handshake.
- 8:23Jennifer Johnson: Be there.
- 8:24Jennifer Johnson: Be present.
- 8:26Jennifer Johnson: Now, building the relationships, that's just the start.
- 8:31Jennifer Johnson: You have to nurture them.
- 8:33Jennifer Johnson: Nurture them by doing regular check-ins with them.
- 8:36Jennifer Johnson: You know, but personally make those calls.
- 8:41Jennifer Johnson: Make those, send those text messages.
- 8:43Jennifer Johnson: Don't have something automated.
- 8:44Jennifer Johnson: Hey, how are you doing?
- 8:46Jennifer Johnson: Because I know you can do this in certain things.
- 8:48Jennifer Johnson: There's certain um apps out there that allow you to automatically check in with people.
- 8:52Jennifer Johnson: No, do this.
- 8:53Jennifer Johnson: You physically do this.
- 8:56Jennifer Johnson: Remember important dates, like maybe it's their birthday or their work anniversary.
- 9:00Jennifer Johnson: Send them a message.
- 9:01Jennifer Johnson: I love to send cards.
- 9:03Jennifer Johnson: Like I said, I'd love to send the thank you cards.
- 9:06Jennifer Johnson: But you know, maybe in this case, send them a message.
- 9:09Jennifer Johnson: And then be adaptable.
- 9:11Jennifer Johnson: As people's needs and situations change, be willing to adapt and be willing to do what you need to do to be able to support them because that's really important.
- 9:21Jennifer Johnson: And how can you leverage?
- 9:25Jennifer Johnson: I kept a lot of people ask this question.
- 9:28Jennifer Johnson: Well, you know, but how can I use technology, you know, like social media or uh using Zoom or email or that kind of thing in building relationships?
- 9:40Jennifer Johnson: It's a part of it, but it shouldn't be the overarching theme of how you nurture your relationships.
- 9:47Jennifer Johnson: Yes, you can send that random email or you can have that random Zoom call.
- 9:52Jennifer Johnson: But when and if it's all possible, the in-person option is always going to for certain outweigh anything that you can do online.
- 10:02Jennifer Johnson: So as we wrap up, remember that building strong business relationships is not just a one-time event.
- 10:09Jennifer Johnson: It's an ongoing process.
- 10:11Jennifer Johnson: It requires constant effort, genuine care, and a long-term perspective.
- 10:16Jennifer Johnson: But the rewards in term of business in terms of business success is personal growth and professional fulfillment.
- 10:22Jennifer Johnson: And that is really immeasurable.
- 10:25Jennifer Johnson: Every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship.
- 10:29Jennifer Johnson: And I have this thing that I feel like no matter who it is I meet or whatever situation I'm involved in, there's always a lesson.
- 10:37Jennifer Johnson: So everybody you meet, you can learn a lesson from.
- 10:41Jennifer Johnson: So what I challenge you is to look at what you can do to approach your next business interaction with intentional, being intentional.
- 10:53Jennifer Johnson: How can you add value to the person that you're talking to?
- 10:56Jennifer Johnson: How can you listen more effectively?
- 10:58Jennifer Johnson: And how can you lay that foundation for a strong, lasting relationship?