Behind every organization, people are instrumental to business success. Cultivating relationships with other people—whether they are clients, employees, vendors, community members or legislative decision makers—is how a business thrives and grows. How do you as a woman business owner build strong, sustainable relationships?
Laura Inns, Founder of LBI Law, LLC
My family law and mediation business relies on referrals, so relationships are the primary reason I’m in business.
I build relationships by being genuinely curious about other people, their values, and their goals. As a former journalist, I’m comfortable interviewing people which makes networking easier for me. I enjoy learning what makes us all tick. I think about how I can help the person. Is there a connection I can make? Was there an idea we talked about that I can circle back with more information? Is there a different perspective I can bring that may help?
I strengthen these relationships by being supportive. This week I went to a college buddy’s pop-up, shared my start-up experiences with a future business owner, and edited a new service description for a business owner. By helping others, I’m creating goodwill in the business community.
But mostly, I do the best job I can for my clients. This means setting realistic and clear expectations based on their needs and values. When I’m referred a client, my referral partners know their trust is safe.
Twyler Jenkins, Chief Strategist & CEO of Strategic Events Solutions and Founder & CEO of I Am That Woman Movement
As a woman business owner, I build strong, sustainable relationships in several ways. First by treating my clients more like friends and family members and not just clients. Having a personal touch of empathy and understanding allows us to connect on a deeper level.
I’m also authentic with my clients by being genuine, transparent, and honest which creates mutual respect and positive interactions. I ensure we have effective communication throughout the process and beyond the scope of services if appropriate. Over the 22 years I have created relationships with many clients who are now longtime friends.
It’s also critical for me to be adaptive to keep strong and sustainable relationships. In meeting and event planning, there are constant changes, and I must stay adaptable and flexible. I collaborate with my clients to ensure we deliver on their goals and objectives and remain consistent and reliable to exceed their expectations. It’s a lot of hard work, but nothing is better than seeing a client’s vision come to fruition and we have coordinated, planned, and executed exactly what they envisioned.
Michele Katz, Founding Partner of Advitam IP, LLC
I have always had the mindset that people are not fungible. Who you hire (regardless of job title), who hires you, or with whom you choose to partner ought to share your vision and mission. We are a results-driven intellectual property firm (patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.) with a focus on giving back in a meaningful and measurable way. Knowing who you are and what you stand for accomplishes two goals simultaneously: it separates you from your competition and also targets the relationships where you are more likely to attract, inspire and retain. Those are typically the best relationships to help you grow and reach your goals. At the same time, and equally important in my 20+ years of business and network building experience, is the genuine interest in the personal and professional growth of others. This is the heart of NAWBO Chicago and why I have been a member since the beginning of my career. We share that strong desire to create genuine reciprocal, symbiotic relationships. For me, that alignment has led to building a strong woman-owned law firm.
Erin Stevenson, Creator & Founder of The Do Good Movement
For me, building strong relationships is all about being authentic and listening. As a yoga practitioner, we do our best to be mindful of being in the moment. I feel that this helps in being connected in conversation and hearing what people are truly saying to recognize the common threads and those opportunities to connect the dots within all my relationships and help lift one another up. It is the greatest gift for me when I am able to develop new relationships by introducing people to one another among my networks. It creates a comradery approach that we’re all in this together: one person’s success is a ripple effect to us all.