Training Portal
Relationship Building
Long term trusting relationships are key to getting things done, and the ability to relate to diverse groups of people can have a much bigger impact than tasks, functions, roles and positions. Having a variety of styles and knowing when to use them, together with excellent interpersonal skills allows you to get along with all kinds of people and to build good relationships. One of the keys to this is to focus on others and respect those around you, whether they are senior leaders, peers, direct reports or external stakeholders such as customers. Being approachable and welcoming, thoughtful and tactful are essential attributes to building effective relationships and create goodwill and the desire to work with you.
Relationship Building - Introduction
Does your body language let you down?
Ensure your body language aligns with your words, avoid disruptive habits, and show interest through eye contact and attentive gestures.
Do you avoid sharing information?
Balance privacy with sharing by giving insights into your thoughts and life, encouraging others to open up and improve relationships.
Do you judge people too quickly?
Develop active listening skills, show curiosity, and summarise conversations to improve understanding and relationships.
Are you unapproachable?
Adjust your style to match the needs of others, reduce behaviors that cause discomfort, and increase those that put people at ease.
Is your focus all business?
Show your human side by remembering and acknowledging personal details about colleagues to build effective, lasting relationships.
Do you struggle to relate to certain groups?
Push yourself to interact with a wider variety of people, applying the same relationship-building principles that work with familiar groups.
Do you lack self-confidence?
Appear confident by making the first move and practicing in low-risk scenarios, observing and mimicking confident behaviors.
Do you find certain individuals challenging?
Get to know challenging individuals better, finding common ground and moving past previous issues to build goodwill and rapport.
Relationship Building - Summary
