CC
Networking
featuring
Starr Hall
Communication
is Key : How
to Build
Quality Relationships
May
2009
Starr
Hall
STARR
HALL >>
Founder
of 2 Point
Media LLC,
noted international
speaker,
radio personality
and published
author
Remember playing
the telephone
game? Someone
whispers a
sentence in
the person's
ear next to
them and the
information
moves down
the line until
the last person
says it out
loud. The final
message is
never the same
as the original.
So where does
the communication
break down?
Somewhere along
the line, someone
stops listening.
In today's
wired world,
building and
maintaining
quality relationships
can be extremely
challenging
if we don't
make a conscious
effort to communicate
and listen
effectively.
Communication
is changing
and the English
language is
evolving. Pretty
soon we will
see words or
phrases like skype
me , write
on my wall ,
or text
me in
Webster's.
Or, better
yet, there's brb , lol ,
or ttyl ("be
right back," "laughing
out loud," or "talk
to you later").
Communication
on or offline
affects and
shapes relationships
every single
day, whether
personally
or professionally.
Sixty-two
percent of
conversations
happen online.
Many individuals
and organizations
have found
great success
and have built
lasting and
profitable
relationships
by communicating
via discussion
groups. These
groups can
range from
general discussion
forums such
as Women in
Business or
California
Entrepreneurs,
to industry
specific groups
like Virtual
Assistants
or Website
Designers.
The forums
allow small
business owners
to network
with others
who share the
same interests
and who can
be beneficial
in building
relationships,
either directly
or indirectly.
It's like attending
a chamber mixer
except you
can go any
time, any day,
and reach out
to as many
people as you
want with a
targeted focus.
My personal
secret to building
relationships
is simple:
have consistent
and authentic
communication,
and learn to
listen. If
you are not
listening to
the other person's
needs or interests,
you can't expect
to establish
a strong connection.
Once you have
figured out
their interests,
be sincere
in communicating
with them.
Equally as
important as
listening is
keeping in
contact on
a regular basis.
If someone
only hears
from you once
every six months,
it will be
extremely difficult
to maintain
a mutually
advantageous
relationship.
Consistent
communication
has many rewards,
from peaking
interest and
gathering new
clients to
gaining a friendship
that enriches
your life.
By simply talking
with your clients
and contacts
you can build
relationships
that will help
enhance every
aspect of your
personal and
business circles.
Communication
Tools & Tips
1. When communicating,
use questions
and statements
such as: How
do you feel
about this
issue ? Would
you mind sharing
where you learned
that ? I
would love
to hear more
about that ,
or, How
can I assist
you with this
project ?
2. Have a
communication
system in place
to reach out
to people you
love, work
with, or want
to get to know,
such as sending
out an email
once a week
or a few times
a month.
3. Schedule
in 30 minutes
once a week
to hand write
a notecard
to people that
you have encountered
or want to
reach out to
and keep in
touch with.
4. Send a
quick gift
such as a small
box of chocolate
(who doesn't
like chocolate?)
or a virtual
online gift
or e-card.
5. For business
contacts that
have sent you
referrals,
send a money
tree--this is
a great way
to pass on
prosperity
and give thanks.
Start
networking
with CCM® today:
MYSPACE || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || LINKED
IN
Get
More CC Networking:
Jan/Feb 2009:
Get
Connected
March 2009: Online Networking 101
April 2009: Online
Etiquette
May 2009: Communication is Key
For
more information
about Starr
Hall, please
visit www.starrhall.com
back to top
|
