There’s nothing more important than relationships.
The quality of your customer experience determines whether or not you’ll be successful in the long run.
In today’s fast-paced world, many people are looking for a connection that they can’t find online. In order to compete with the big names in your industry and keep up on social media platforms, you need an engaging brand experience, which is difficult without human interaction – but what does this mean? It means building relationships! The way we do business has changed drastically over time; our consumption habits have shifted from physical stores to online shopping because it’s more convenient than going out into public spaces.
Even though there may be less opportunity to meet face to face, the way you engage with people will largely impact your bottom line. Whether it’s developing relationships with clients or customers, engaging in conversation and building trust are crucial for success! The key to building authentic business relationships is to view everyone as a person with their own desires, motives, and interests. Once you recognize this importance, then creating genuine connections for your company or organization can come more naturally.
Theresa Darling, our Business Development rep here at COE is a relationship-building pro. Take note of her expertise below.
How is relationship building core to your business development practices at Commercial Office Environments?
{Theresa} I try to get to know each client personally and professionally and then I find ways to help them with their needs along with enjoying the things we have in common. I find we are more alike than we are different and most of my clients end up becoming good friends. I believe it is important to figure out ways we can work together and help each other grow our businesses and have fun along the way. When a client feels that you are genuine and trustworthy, and they feel that you are in the relationship to help them grow, business always follows…
Can you talk about how listening, which is one of COE’s pillars, shows up in your business development efforts regularly?
{Theresa} Well, I think I was kind of born a built-in listener and connector. I have been a life coach for many years and I enjoy listening to the concerns of others and finding ways to help them within their company, sharing ideas and solutions to their pains, while providing them with knowledge of our services and products. With anyone that I meet, I always give them my personal cell. I want others to know that they can call me six weeks, six months, or six years from now and I will be more than happy to help in any way I can.
How would you advise others who look up to your relationship-building skills?
{Theresa} Be yourself, find as much in common as you can with that client on a personal level, and just really get to know them as a human being. Then find ways you can help them grow their business, connect them with other potential clients, and partner with them to build each other’s companies. I’m a huge connector and I really just want to have everybody be as happy as I am, both personally and professionally. So if I have the tools or traits that would be helpful to someone else, I want to share them. Every day, I wake up and think, ‘Who can I help today?’ I think having that positive attitude weighs a lot in life. When you’re around people who are genuine, caring and enthusiastic, it’s contagious. You feel their energy and you want to be more like them and you grow with each other.
