5 insights to building a high-quality relationship

At a speaking engagement in Canada last week, TEDx speaker and National Geographic explorer Cameron Brown provided his insights on what it takes to build quality relationships in today’s digital world.

1. A purpose bigger than your problems

Whenever you experience challenges (which all of us do), by having a purpose bigger than your problems, you are able to handle those challenges much more effectively as they arise.

2. The need for external validation

The moment you need external validation from others is the moment you are at the mercy of your external environment. Get your validation met internally first and then external validation becomes an added bonus and a tracking measure for how effective your content is.

3. The power of assumption
There is an “assumption period” between when you, for example, send an email to someone and when they actually respond. If you’ve got limiting beliefs going on, then you can assume the worst like, “Oh, maybe they didn’t want to do business with me”, “Maybe they found someone else” or “People are so rude these days”… whatever the limit is.

If you are going to assume something, you might as well assume something that is supportive of your success instead of detrimental to your thinking and the relationship.

4. The capacity of your memory

We like to think we will follow up and follow through with everything we say we are going to do, but the reality is you are busy and you’ve got a lot of stuff to get done.

You can have the best intentions, but if you don’t have a killer follow-up system, intentions are not going to cut it. Make sure you have a quality CRM in place to ensure that you are following through with everything you say you are going to do.

5. Vulnerability in a social world

Having the courage to be vulnerable in any situation that you are being exposed to can be really challenging.

But if you’re able to do so with those you’re building a relationship with, it can build trust very fast. When you let your guard down, you give other people permission to do the same, and it gives the relationship an opportunity to go to a whole new level.

It takes courage to be vulnerable, and it can be challenging, but if you do it, you’ll be amazed at how fast trust builds – and with trust comes opportunity.