How can you build a strong foundation for lasting professional relationships?

We hear about the importance of a first impression, but what about the second? The third? The thirty-third? Starting a relationship isn't that hard, putting your best foot forward and focusing on what's in it for them is a good way to kick it off, but how do you keep them? If your intentions do not LEAD with sincerity and authenticity, it won't last long. We have all met that person who seemed great, but after a while, their true colors show and they are not the person you thought they were. Put deciept aside and give them the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes we try our hardest to present ourselves in a way we believe others want to see us. Focus on the integrity of the relationship and respect yourself enough to BE yourself. Good luck!

Be honest. I once met with a potential donor who asked me what it was that I wanted to ask him to fund and I said I did not know. Not because we did not have priorities but because I had never heard his passion or his vision or dream. It is critical to be authentic and honest. That conversation resulted in a much deeper relationship that moved the organization forward in ways that would not have happened if I was just going through the motions or just wanting to close a gift.

Being vulnerable with those that surround you is an imperative part of establishing strong relationships. It’s vulnerability that accelerates trust, and trust enables mutual openness and the ability to share.

People give to support a cause that warms their heart, that makes a difference in someone's life or a groups mission that improves lives. If you don't communicate that well, you have no foundation.

Relationships take care and feeding. It's important to stay connected and not be transactional when building professional relationships. A lack of authenticity can come across as not genuine. Just as with personal relationships, what you get out has a direct relationship to what you put in. Be willing to support, serve and be available. Seek out people to connect with and have a real conversation. Be willing to do the work. Sometimes less is more. Seek to build authentic relationships with a few people, rather than trying to boast large numbers of connections if there is nothing really there at the end of the day.

Create networks with these tips. 1. Engage with your chosen organizations. Follow them on social media and subscribe to their newsletters. This provides plenty of conversation starters. 2. Reach out! If you see someone or something interesting, send a personal email introducing yourself and expressing your interest. 3. Invite someone to a quick 20-minute virtual coffee chat. It's a low-pressure way to learn more about each other and explore connections. 4. Attending the same conference? Reach out to other participants beforehand. 5. Add new contacts to your lists with a note about a personal or professional detail you learned. 6. Stay in touch. Schedule regular follow-ups, once or twice a year, to maintain a warm connection.

The key is to remember that many of us are in the same boat when it comes to social interactions. So though trying being proactive may result in awkward, uncomfortable situations; it will also make others participate and open; and may see you as a leader.

In my experience, being proactive especially in relationship building setting helps balance things. - Take the initiative to understand their needs, communicate openly about your goals, and demonstrate reliability by consistently delivering on commitments. - Be attentive to colleagues' strengths and preferences, and seek opportunities to support and collaborate.

Imagine you are a card in an old fashioned rolodex (dated analogy, but go with me), each card is placed in order of the last and most productive interaction... CONGRATULATIONS! You made it to the rolodex, but staying relevant means you have to put in the work! Regularly checking in and seeing how you can bring value to those you hope to gain value from is a great way to keep front and center in their minds. Just being there isn't enough, do the painstaking work of stewarding the relationship and building value. Stay at the front of the rolodex! Good luck!

Talking about changes in the plan and being transparent goes a long way. Bringing funders into problem solving when problems are small is a big deal. Be open and talk about the process with people!

“Being Helpful” is a subset of being “Customer Obsessed”. Yes, we can be helpful when it is easy for us, but being customer obsessed goes further than that. It means actively co-creating new solutions for your partner’s problems even when the solution isn’t mutually beneficial. It means using your financial, business, logistics, technology and network to the benefit of others. When you can do this, with authentic servant leadership, you will see your relationships grow at exponential levels.

Being able to assist others is the greatest way to build long lasting relationships through philanthropy. Whether it's through volunteering, giving advice, making suggestions, donating money or time, or being a listening ear, if you are available in some way you become an asset. People prefer connections that are both essential and valuable to them.

Being helpful begins with asking what a friend or colleague needs and really listening to their response. Sometimes the other person may simply need a sounding board or thought partner. Unsolicited advice may seem like adding value, but sometimes it can overwhelm another person. I think it's always best to wait for a specific request for help before offering anything.

This is the best way to make others comfortable with sharing and building strong relationships. However, make sure to respect boundaries and offer help in ways without offending; and without expecting anything - not even a thanks. Being able to help someone is a reward in itself.

Being helpful begins with identifying your capacity to help which requires having an intimate comprehension of what others need. Knowing what they need and how we are uniquely capable of meeting or supplementing that need allows us to maximize both authenticity and value. I often like to remind people that when we truly appreciate others, we search for ways to add value to them.

A few things that I have found are helpful are 1. Ensuring that your actions align with your words and values consistently over time. Always say what you are going to do. 2. Demonstrate reliability by consistently meeting deadlines and delivering on promises. 3. Regularly check in with colleagues, actively listen to their concerns, and provide genuine support. This helps build the culture in the organization and motivates everyone.

If you say you’re going to do something, you have to do it. Even if it’s something small like calling when you say you will or reading an article you said you would check out. Trust is built in small pieces.

Openness is an underappreciated art form. There is so much opportunity to grow, improve, and build with others when we are open to differences, challenges, and even conflict.

Me ha tocado colaborar y hacer equipo con personas con algún tipo de discapacidad. Al principio y desde la ignorancia, pense que sería muy difícil. Hoy, estoy convencida que la diversidad y la inclusión son clave para construir bases solidas y duraderas, ya que nos permiten tener contextos y perspectivas mas amplias para poder llegar por ejemplo, a una mejor resolución de problemas o bien soluciones innovadoras y lo mejor, es que nos permite salirnos de la caja de lo que "siempre" pensamos que es el deber ser. Hacer equipo con personas diferentes a ti, te hacen cuestionarte y el ser abierto, nos permite tener por mucho, una perspectiva más amplia ante cualquier situación.

Whatever you are doing be as much open as possible and be accountable and tranperent. It makes people and organisation to trust you and believe in what you re doing. Have a clear directions on your vision and mission

Being respectful of their time always. If you ask for thirty minutes only take that time and if the conversation continues, ask them if they want to continue or pick up on the discussion at another time. Listening and letting them know through your non-verbal cues that you are genuinely hearing them. Respect them and your gain theirs.

Be interested in them, truly understand who they are, their goals and vision and where they have been. Having them share stories in either their personal and/or professional life can further form a bond and show you are truly interested in them as a person… and you are!

Focus on listening. Ask open questions and invite people to share by simply saying “tell me more” in conversation. Follow up in future interactions to show genuine interests and recollection.

Overall, lead with integrity: be the same person you say you are. Give the high quality services you offer. Create the impact you advertise. Keep your word. This is how you build honest, true relationships.

Be patient as knowledge and professionalism are obtained and sustained with times and practices. It is only when knowledge is tested, resilience noted and its outputs are consistent at all times that we can say we have built a solid professional foundation.

Building lasting professional relationships requires maintaining integrity and emphasizing moral values from the start. Consistently treating others with the respect you desire fosters trust. Rejecting a cutthroat capitalist mentality and embracing cooperation and fairness helps build a strong foundation. Clearly communicating your commitment to ethical behavior provides a solid foundation for lasting and meaningful professional relationships.