5 Steps to Building Better Business Relationships

“That last raise may be fattening your bank account, but it did nothing for your soul. The talk you had with your boss about your kids' schools, however, did. Although our culture is focused on achievement, it is not our accomplishments that sustain us. It is the connections we make along the way. What are these connections? They are the feelings of being part of something that matters, something larger than ourselves” – E M Hallowell - Connect 12

Your level of connectedness directly influences not only your feeling of fulfillment, but your level of personal and organisational success. Meaningful business relationships aren’t just a nice to have – they should form the very foundation of all business activity.

So in a world where our bandwidth is increasingly cluttered, how do we build better business relationships that elevate the transactional to impactful?

1.    Be Present

"Are you doing emails right now? You called me!" I huffed into the phone in frustration. After two minutes of listening to disjointed conversation along with intermittent keyboard taps I was beyond annoyed.

Do you have someone in your sphere that does this to you too :P? Or perhaps you answer a call only to hear the tail end of someone's current conversation before their attention is alerted to your "Hi.......Hello?....Hey!"?

People can tell when you're half-listening. Active presence - eye contact, body language, and genuine curiosity - builds trust faster than any networking script.

Move away from your phone! (and laptop).  No-one wants to feel like they are secondary to a device.  Remember that simply because someone messages you, it does not necessitate an immediate reply.

Being present is something I have needed to deliberately curate in my own life.  A few years ago I turned off notifications on almost every app.  My personal phone lives on silent (my children’s contacts are of course set up so that two subsequent rings will activate an audible call even in sleep mode! ).  And I turn my phone downwards when in conversation so that I am not distracted. And still... I am a work in progress :)

Check out your level of Presence with our Quiz at the end of this article!

2.    Ask Better Questions

Instead of “How are you?” try “What’s been energizing you lately?” Thoughtful questions spark deeper conversations and show you care beyond surface-level pleasantries. 

These questions not only provide a platform to connect over shared interests, pain points or wins - but they give you the opportunity to set the tone for the conversation.  I have a friend whom every time we meet, asks “What are you most looking forward to right now?”.  Which is a beautiful way of ensuring we both remain positively future-focussed.

3.     Lead with Vulnerability

Forget the highlight reel. Sharing your challenges and uncertainties (appropriately) creates psychological safety - a key element in connectedness.  Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s the gateway to authenticity (and something I’ve dedicated an entire article to previously!)

4.    Look For What You Can Give, Not What You Can Get. Without An Agenda.

This is what truly elevates communication from transactional to impactful.  Are you the type of person who walks into a business function and scans the room for contacts you can leverage?

Next time you attend an event, consider what you can contribute to each person you engage with. Seek to learn and not to tell. Listen.

In each conversation ask questions to find ways in which you can give or encourage (and this does not have the be business related!).  This shift in how you show up creates a massive difference in how you make others feel.  And therefore in how they remember you.

Be a Giver.

5.    Follow Up Like You Mean It

A quick “great to meet you” email isn’t enough. Meaningful follow-up includes remembering details, offering value, and checking in.

I have a habit of using the Notes section of the Contacts in my phone to add details like “birthday” “child’s name” etc for key reminders. 

Send genuine and personal congratulations for milestones (I’m sorry to say a LinkedIn post comment does not cut it!)

All relationships, whether business or personal, thrive on consistency, not convenience.

The bottom line: Relationships aren’t built in boardrooms - they’re built in moments. Be present.  Be intentional. Be the kind of person you would want to connect with again X

Quiz: How Present Are You When Communicating?

Score each statement from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). Total your score at the end.

1. I maintain eye contact during conversations.

2. I listen without interrupting or planning my response.

3. I notice and respond to others’ emotional cues.

4. I ask thoughtful, open-ended questions.

5. I avoid multitasking when someone is speaking to me. (this includes Phone & Laptop!)

6. I remember and reference details from past conversations.

7. I follow up with people after meetings or events.

8. I express appreciation or encouragement regularly and genuinely.

9. I share my thoughts honestly, even when it feels vulnerable.

10. I reflect on how my communication impacts others.

    
    

Scoring:

• 40–50: You’re a presence powerhouse. Keep showing up with intention.

• 30–39: You’re doing well — a few tweaks could deepen your impact.

• 20–29: You’re on the path — time to tune in more consistently.

• Below 20: Let’s be honest — it’s time for a communication reboot.