Five proven ways to build powerful relationships

Five proven ways to build powerful relationshipsFive proven ways to build powerful relationshipsMeaningful, mutually beneficial relationships are what lead to growth and tremendous opportunities. As much as we seek to advance ur own cause or profit, we learn in life that we elevate ourselves most when we seek to advance the cause and goals of the people we meet. This principle of the law of reciprocity is so important that we must lead with giving value to others if we aim to receive value in return.So many people jump right into trying to make money or living the dream without building relationships. Or worse yet, once they work to build a relationship, they do so under the guise of mutually beneficial gain, while only concerning themselves in thought and action with themselves.Speaking from experience, Ill tell you that youre worse off if you ever succeed in doing this. Because sooner or later, the joke will be on you, and youll find yourself worse off than where you began.Whether youre an entrepreneur or freelancer, or whether youre the founder of a start-up looking to scale your business, you will discover that you need relationships to survive. We need people to lean on in times of adversity and lost hope. We need people to coach and mentor us when we dont know the way. We need people to open doors for us that otherwise would remain closed.We need people who care to motivate, inspire and enable us to see in ourselves the image - the person - that weve always wanted to become.Business. Life. Personal and Professional Growth are about relationships. Here are five proven ways to build powerful, lasting relationships that yield value for each person.1. Give without expecting anything in returnThis advice is timeless because it is the single-best way to build relationships and positively influence people. When youre meeting with someone, show them what you can do for them. Dont just tell them. If you want someone to experience meaningful value, give it to the m and do so with maximum impact.This is so significant because it flips the paradigm so many people operate under Many people are unsuccessful at building relationships because theyre only in it for themselves.Well, guess what? If the world worked that way, none of us would get anything This is a narrow-minded focus and it doesnt work in business or in personal relationships. So, dont just think about giving value to others. Show them. Prove to them what value you can give them. Think about something that youre good at. What expertise do you have? What knowledge can you share with someone else that will enrich their life?Its wise to go into a meeting or conversation with an objective of what you want to get out of it. I think youll find that youll have so much more if you lead with generosity and service instead of only focusing on your own wants and needs.2. Show someone that you careHave a passionate curiosity around learning more about the people you already know, as well as the people you havent met yet. A great way to start here is to think about the things you admire in other people. What people in your life - or famous people - do you look up to? Paint a very clear picture and visualize in your mind what it is about them that makes you curious and enthusiastic about wanting to know them.From there, you can develop questions. You can become a detective. Get to know them. Schedule time to get on their calendar and meet at a time and location that is convenient for them. Ask them questions.What makes them fimmel?How do they define success?What do they love?What do they really want out of life?When youre curious and inquisitive, your enthusiasm and passion show. In other words - the best parts of you show. Isnt that how you want to represent yourself?3. Find a common bond (past) and determine how to leverage that to grow with that person (future)The pieces of who we are form and assemble from our past. Connections, impactful moments, ways that we self-id entify, these are formed from the experiences of our past. Find a common bond that you share with someone else. It could be an alumni connection, sports league or hobby that has been a huge part of your life.Think about what you might have in common, then listen. Focus on the other person and give that person your undivided attention and you will realize the importance of listening. Keep your ears open and youll discover themes in their story or their experience that might crossover with your own.In buchen to build with someone into the present and future, we have to know where theyve been. Maybe weve shared experiences and dreams that are very similar.4. Take that meeting with someone successful, even if you think YOU wont get something out of it.Theres always something to learn. I dont believe, at least in short-term theory, about Mark Cubans advice about only taking a meeting for money. For one, thats a very short-term strategy and way of looking at things. But hey, maybe thats t he way one feels when they become one of the richest people in the worldBut its not the way I feel, because Ive learned so much from taking meetings and getting mentoring and advice from others. Successful people are usually willing to share how theyve gotten to where they have. Listen up and go in without your own agenda. You may come out with more wisdom than you could have imagined.5. Be mindful and on the lookout for innovative ideas and opportunitiesLast but not least, become adept at reading between the lines. We dont always know what well hear. That meeting we take that might have originated under the auspices of trying to find a new job, might lead to the idea that helps us frame-up the purpose and mission for our lives.Be opportunistic. Keep an open-mind and you will never go wrong. Live by values and LEAD with values. Be true to you word. Be a person of integrity. Ive created and cultivated powerful relationships by following these five principles. Theyre yours to use. You ll flourish if you put them into practice.Show the people around you that you care about them and that youre willing to put them first. This is the mark of a true leader. Great leaders are vulnerable and unselfish. Ultimately, they thrive by exhibiting this behavior and in so doing, they earn the respect of all.Build the life you wantJoin my newsletterwhere I share inspirational and content and tools that will help you build the life you want. If youre interested in working with metry me here.Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.