Developing relationships is key to the success and growth of your business. Learning how to leverage relationships in an authentic and meaningful way is key to your success. Is their a strategy to it?  Partnerships are built off of harnessing the right relationships. Hubspot’s Carolyn Kim weighs in.

 

The Rule of Three

The Rule of 3 allows me to build connections worth investing in.

Let’s say I go to a party hosted by my company, The Good Ones, in hopes of adding new people to my network. I have a brief conversation with the following three individuals.

 

 

Jen

Jen is a young professional who:

  • Attended a top grad school.
  • Requested to meet hiring managers before getting to know me.
  • Was very quiet and reserved in conversation.

April

April a graduate student who:

  • Works at a mid-size technology company.
  • Was dressed very stylish and trendy.
  • Is passionate about nonprofit involvement.

  Courtney

Courtney is a seasoned professional who:

  • Has 10+ years of experience in Eastern Medicine.
  • Warm and open when initiating conversation.
  • Enjoys mentoring young professionals.

 

Based on my three rules, it’s clear to me that Jen is least fit for my professional network, while Courtney is the best fit. Here’s why  –

1. Relevance: Eastern Medicine has become a trend not only in the world, but one that I’m particularly interested in.

2. Shared Passion: I have a decent number of people in my network focused on Eastern Medicine who ?could benefit from her mentorship and experience.

3. Personality Fit: Our mutual warmth and open-mindedness gives us the opportunity to connect on a deeper level; and real connections create greater value for everyone involved.

By finding three strong reasons to connect with Courtney, I’m ensuring that this relationship is a valuable investment of my time.

Regardless of what the three rules end up being (academics, industry, professional title, hobbies, travel experience, etc.), the Rule of 3 is a great starting point for training our eye to detect potential beneficial relationships.

And remember – building relationships should be both enjoyable and productive. Have fun with it!