BUSINESS CORNER
17 ESSENTIALS FOR
I N D U S T RY N E W S
BUILDING STRONG
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
A S S O C I AT I O N I N S I D E R
Having a network of strong business relationships is essential for a healthy, agile enterprise. Every business needs to build relationships with people across the whole
SPOTLIGHT
INDEX
range of prospective business contacts, including customers, workers, investors, vendors, peer operators, other kinds of companies in the community, government representatives, and others. Fortunately, for business leaders looking to build strong relationships, their power sweeping enterprises need, the necessary basic business relationship-building skills listed below can be learned.
I
f the importance of good business relationships
time. There are some recognizable characteristics
needs further emphasis, consider that research
of good, sustainable business relationships:
by Harvard University, in conjunction with the
n Mutual Respect — Both parties value each
Stanford Research Center and the Carnegie
other’s ideas, wisdom, and input. You can work
Foundation has concluded that around 85% of
together effectively to determine creative
success in business appears to be due to people
solutions based on your combined insights.
skills. (See the Additional Resources section
n Mutual Trust — You work together well
below for the research link.) So, let’s look at what
because you can communicate openly and
good business relationships look like, and how
honestly share your thoughts, and energy
to go about building those for your commercial
is not wasted worrying about the other’s
pavement sweeping company.
trustworthiness.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A GOOD BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP?
n Mutual Care — Both of you take responsibility for your actions and words. You’re both careful
A business relationship is an involvement that
with your comments and avoid letting negative
should be mutually beneficial to the parties over
emotions from impacting one another.
8 NO R TH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R S EP T EM BER 2020
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