Those of you that have seen my posts on social media will know I talk a lot about how building strong relationships is imperative to selling. Building relationships is critical because in the modern business climate the expression “People buy from people” has never been more relevant.

Below are five quick tips that I believe will help you create and build on those relationships.

Be genuine

To make initial connections with someone, it is important to be genuine. Get to know the individual by asking questions that demonstrate an interest in getting to know them. Showing genuine interest from the start can help encourage the other person to connect with you more easily.

Find Common Ground

To form a connection with someone, it is helpful to talk about topics that you both have in common. Ask the other person questions about their interests, hobbies, or goals and try to think of things you have in common.

Show empathy

Showing empathy and understanding for the other person’s situation can help to create a bond between the two of you. Ask the other person questions about themselves and try to understand where they are coming from.

Open ended Questions

Open-ended questions that give the other person the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings can help create a connection. By allowing the other person to share more information and express their feelings, it can help create a stronger connection between the two of you.

Be positive and Friendly

Be sure to be friendly and positive when connecting with someone new. Making sure that you are smiling, making eye contact, and speaking confidently can help create a positive environment that encourages the other person to open up and connect with you.

Try not to be cynical in your approach, for example I only work with people I get on well with, however if you can form a good bond with someone on a personal level it makes the working relationship flow much easier. In the Peer power programme we cover a lot of information about how you can build stronger relationships and there is a cracking video here where Simon Sinek explains the reasons as to “knowing your why” is so important.