Building & Leveraging Relationships By: Jackie Robinson

​One of the topics brought up during the panel discussion: “The Pink Ceiling-Things Women Do That Hold Them Back” at the A Woman About Her Business Brunch this past weekend is that many women fail to build strong relationships that matter and don’t know how or when to leverage them when they do.
Relationships are imperative for the career-driven professional woman and the ambitious woman entrepreneur.  You HAVE TO have influential relationships and connections to excel.  You’ve heard it, “It’s not just what you know, it’s also who you know”.  That’s why networking will never be unnecessary.  It will always be a factor that should be included in your personal and professional branding strategy.  You must network strategically, meaning you are intentional about positioning yourself in spaces where there will be people who could help you in some way, who you can learn something from, who could become a part of your personal board of directors, or who could be someone you could collaborate with in some regard. Not only should you be seeking opportunities to connect with those who could be a resource to you, be sure that they are people of whom you can be a resource too as well.  The key is to build mutually beneficial relationships where efforts are reciprocated. Be intentional about making 1-2 strong connections through every social networking event you attend.
Once you make those connections, develop them with periodic, genuine touch-bases or meet-ups to stay in touch and in the loop on what’s going on with them and you share what’s going on in your world.  Get to know them on a personal level in whatever way they are comfortable but be careful not to pry.  You should not be asking for anything from your new connection upfront, unless this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the stars aligned for you to meet that person at that moment and you have an immediate need.  Your approach in this situation should be handled carefully.  Learn to read the room and the person you may be speaking to gauge where you should go in the conversation.
The reason building and leveraging relationships is one of the things that hold them back is because many women don’t want to come across as an opportunist or that they are using the person so they connect with people but don’t approach them as a resource to help them reach their goals.  Some might even fear that they will be judged as incompetent or less resourceful.  Let me tell you this……men have no problem cashing in on favors and leveraging the relationships they build.  People in some of the most prominent positions know the art of leveraging relationships and use that knowledge to their advantage. Although there absolutely are folks who are opportunist and are only concerned with what others can do for them, you can effectively leverage relationships without this perception if you intentional about how you build the relationship from the start. The key is here is knowing how and when to ask for what you want or need.
Below are tips for effectively building and leveraging relationships:

• Start “building” and nurturing the relationship before you need to ask for a favor
• When you make a new connection, share with them what your current and future goals are
• Learn more about your new connection and their current and future goals
• Discover ways that you both can help each other when needed and commit to being a source of support to each other
• Offer them a resource or assistance first
• Keep in touch with them. Don’t wait until you need them.
• Practice reciprocity.  ALWAYS support people who support you.

You are in control of how you present yourself to others.  If you are genuine and sincere when connecting with people, you will not be labeled an opportunist.  Most progressive women and men understand the rules of engagement and they leverage relationships when it matters most.  They also are committed to building valuable business relationships that often turn into friendships.
Relationships are necessary for career and business growth. Don’t shy away from leveraging relationships because that will surely hold you back.  Leveraging relationships is how most successful people get ahead! Don’t get left behind!