How To Build Relationships In Business
Establishing a business is just a first step; but getting it going and doing very well for the long term is the more tricky thing
. Making a business successful is next to impossible if a business owner does not establish solid relationships with people. His success, whether he likes it or not, is hinged on the way people perceive him. Trust, reliability and credibility are the keys to building good business relationships.
There are ways to establish this trust. Here are some of them:
Keep your promises. When you make a promise, make sure you do it. If there is a sure-fire way to establish a reputation for being unreliable, then this must be it. Especially in business, which is so under time pressure, keeping promises is a MUST. Note - it is not an extra service, it is not just a way to keep customers from hounding you - it is definitely something you must keep.
If you promise to deliver cement for a construction on Monday morning, the contractor will obviously start building Monday afternoon. So if you deliver on Tuesday or Wednesday, obviously you will bungle up the entire work schedule. Try doing this and you may very well find your business among the "unreliable list." And mind you - bad news travels much faster than good news.
Instead of spending money on fancy advertising, invest in good networking. Rather than trying to impress people with your television commercials and print advertisements, it would be better to devote sometime to widening your network and going out to meet both your customers and your competitors. It is not a good idea to be enemies with the competition - there may come a time when you would need to do a joint venture with them.
Networking entails talking and actually building closer relationships with your customers. Try going out to the counter and personally ask clients how you can help them. Ask them what their hobbies are, what they are interested in, and what else they are searching for which they do not find in your store. You will find that these small gestures will slowly translate to referrals. That's what trust is - both your clients and fellows are comfortable having you on their side.
Don't try to commit to too many things. Okay, it may seem tempting to accept too many jobs - it would be a waste to say no to profit, right? WRONG. If you know you are already over your head in work, then learn to say NO. If you can no longer do everything, and yet still keep on accepting, that is not accommodation - that is already greed. Spreading yourself too thin and doing a mediocre job on all things is certainly worse than doing only a few things but doing everything excellently. Remember "reliability"? Well, clients will no longer rely on your business if they can't get the best work - they will quickly change loyalties.
Don't over-guarantee. A common mistake of failed businesses is that they guarantee too much, so the clients naturally expect to get what you guarantee. Instead of claiming to be "the best in the world," try exercising a bit of modesty, and promise average, but deliver excellence. This way, customers will think that you are always going over and beyond expectations. Reliability = check. Trustworthiness =check. Excellence = check. You got your bases covered!
Be willing to help out others. Always lend a helping hand or a listening ear. This is probably the essence to every relationship - be it friendship, a love relationship, or a business relationship. A relationship is a bond between two or more individual - the underlying objective of which is being there for the other in case the need arises. If you find your relationship lacking in this aspect, then it is not a relationship, but a mere acquaintance. When a client has a problem with something your business does not cover, you can still help out by referring them to someone who may be able to help. If a fellow businessman asks for a bit of advice, then give it. You will find that this bit of assistance will work wonders for your reputation.
Remember that the good you do someone will return to you tenfold. Even in business, there is such a thing as karma.
These are just a few basic ways to strengthen business relationships. For every individual and business, there are varying needs. Learn to adjust in order to fit in. You exist on earth together with millions of other people, so a little bit of connection with others will make your life easier. Remember the key qualities - TRUST. RELIABILITY. HONESTY. CREDIBILITY.
by: Michael Griffiths
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