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 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!