Want Strong Business Relationships? Avoid These 3 Mistakes

Strong relationships are a critical factor in every leader's success, but these missteps can keep you from building them

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By Brendan P. Keegan

Whatever kind of business you have, people—be they customers, workers, partners, mentors, etc.—are the heart of it. The relationships you have with them determine how productive you can be and how much growth you can achieve. Leaders are starting to understand this, but they still fumble when it comes to building strong connections. Time and time again, they trip over these same big mistakes....

Related: How Can You Maintain Good Relationships With Your Peers

1. Treating the Relationship as a Convenience

You’ve probably experienced it: Somebody you haven’t talked to in forever suddenly gets in touch with you. They make some small talk about your family or hobbies so they don’t seem too crass, but then they hit you with a request. At the end of the conversation, it feels like they didn’t really care. They got in, got what they wanted and got out.