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The Value of Relationships

Connect Your Business

The Value of Relationships
By Sharon Powers, President
North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce

Many people believe that if they work hard and produce results, they will advance in their business or careers. Often, the most important aspect is missed; that of building relationships.

Building relationships is crucial. How many people do you know that are hard working, intelligent, and reliable that remain the unsung heroes and never advance to the level of others with the same and sometimes less stellar attributes? Working hard at your job alone will not advance your career or build your business.

We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s not about who you know, but who knows you”. While that definitely holds a certain amount of truth, building relationships is a give-and-take proposition. Too often people begin networking with only themselves in mind, looking for immediate gains. If this is your primary purpose, your networking efforts will come up short in the long run. Building relationships is not about realizing immediate gratification. It takes more than one contact or meeting. Relate it to a personal relationship. If you remember, it took longer than one or two contacts to develop that relationship.

It’s important to look at relationships not only for what someone can do for you, but equally important what you can do for someone else. How many times have you met a person at a networking event and quickly found the exchange to be one-sided? Always ask what you can do to help them; you’ll be more likely to develop a relationship when it’s mutually beneficial.

How does one go about building these mutually advantageous relationships? Attending events that offer networking opportunities is the best way to reach out to a number of contacts. Before you attend though, know what you want the outcomes to be before you go. Effectively network so that you don’t waste your time or the time of others. Remember it is not the quantity of the contacts you make, but the quality that will deliver the results of building effective relationships that will advance your visibility in your company, the community, or both.

However you approach building your network, be prepared to sell yourself. Create your 30-second elevator speech—you know the one used when you stand up at a networking event and introduce yourself. Most times we only have one chance to make that important first impression that can make or break future dealings. Have multiple networks– work related, social, or combination of both. In today’s society, our work and social networks tend to be blended. However, make sure that you have contacts that can speak to you on a strictly professional level as well as those that can be brutally honest with you when needed.

Whether you are looking to promote yourself personally or increase your company’s visibility, it is all about building relationships. In this new year, make it your goal to reach out and touch at least two people each week. By the end of the year, if done correctly you’ll have established a reliable and beneficial network. The North Las Vegas Chamber assists with this very important aspect of doing business with several events and programs each month that lend themselves to networking opportunities. Coming in the immediate future will be yet another chance to gain and give business through targeted referrals. CONNECTION$, a member-driven, referral based group within the Chamber will be coming to a location near you. With only one business category per CONNECTION$ group permitted, participants will be able to promote themselves and their businesses to others seeking the same. With a membership that reaches outside North Las Vegas, CONNECTION$ groups will be held in every part of the valley. Just one more way, the North Las Vegas Chamber connects business--- north and beyond.

Reprinted from LV Business Journal February 11, 2008