1. The Power of Building Connections in Your Career2. Authenticity: The Key to Building Meaningful Connections3. Prioritize Socializing for Overall Well-being4. Enhancing Connections through Eye Contact5. Building Trust and Advancing Your Career through Honesty

Building Connections to Advance in Your Career

Building connections is a powerful professional skill that helps you advance in your career. Your connections can share information about job openings, and they can help you find ways to improve your work performance.

In the classroom, instructors often implement this activity to elicit students’ value-related beliefs about course topics. They can also use it to link course topics to the students’ own interests and responsibilities.

1. Be a good listener

A good listener is a critical component of building connections. This means avoiding distractions, being attentive, and actively listening to the other person.

You may also want to consider letting them finish their thoughts before responding, as this can make them feel heard and understood. Additionally, good listeners are empathetic, meaning that they see situations from the other person’s perspective and react with compassion.

Lastly, good listeners are active in the conversation, nodding or leaning in to show that they’re engaged. This helps them feel like they are being heard and can encourage the speaker to keep talking. This is a great way to create meaningful conversations and build relationships. In addition, if you do get distracted, you can always use a technique like refocusing or taking a moment to think before responding.

2. Be yourself

There’s an old adage that states “be yourself — everyone else is already taken.” Although this phrase might seem intimidating, it’s important to show your true self in a professional setting. This is because forming authentic connections with like-minded individuals in a business setting can help you achieve your career goals.

For example, if you’re an avid reader or runner, consider joining a local book club or a running group to meet people who share your interests. By doing so, you can bond with them over common experiences and form meaningful relationships that can last a lifetime.

Instructors can also use an activity that elicits students’ value-related beliefs by asking them to make connections between course topics and their personal interests. This can also improve students’ motivation to learn and increase their academic performance.

3. Make time to socialize

Socializing is a critical component of one’s well-being and helps stimulate different regions of the brain. While the amount of time spent socializing varies based on personal preference and lifestyle, it is essential that people find ways to connect with others.

Often, it is simply a matter of prioritizing time to meet up with friends. For example, if someone asks you to hang out after work and you’re busy, don’t make up an excuse—be honest.

Alternatively, consider spending money to save time—such as by hiring a housecleaner, utilizing a grocery delivery service, or paying for a direct flight. This will reduce time stress and improve your overall happiness. By doing so, you’ll have more time to focus on the things you enjoy most. This is called “buying time.” This strategy can also help you become more effective in meetings and other professional interactions.

4. Maintain eye contact

Eye contact is an important part of building connections because it conveys trustworthiness and confidence. It also helps people feel more connected to one another, which can be especially important in professional settings.

However, maintaining eye contact can be challenging for many people. It can feel uncomfortable or even creepy to stare at someone for an extended period of time. Fortunately, this is something that can be worked on with practice.

Try practicing in front of a mirror or by having a staring contest with a friend. Eventually, you’ll find that you’re able to hold eye contact for longer periods of time. Additionally, it may help to study the eye movements of people who have great social skills. For example, notice how long they hold their eyes when presenting or talking to others.

5. Be honest

Honesty is important in relationships because it promotes trust and respect. It also helps to clarify misunderstandings and conflicts that can arise in relationships.

Radical honesty involves telling the truth, even if it may be uncomfortable or inconvenient. For example, if your partner gets a new haircut that you don’t like, it’s better to tell them your true feelings rather than saying you love it.

When you’re honest with your connections, they will be more likely to invest time in helping you advance in your career. They’ll be able to give you advice and guidance that you might not be able to get from others in your network. In addition, they’ll be more likely to vouch for you if they believe you are genuine.

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