Solid business relationships can bring many advantages to companies, from expanding brand authority to driving sales and increasing revenues. However, maintaining them requires effort and time.

Identifying stakeholder relationships within large organizations can be challenging when formal organizational charts only capture legal relationships; using stakeholder mapping software may assist.

1. Focus on the Human Side

An integral component of business relationship management involves prioritizing communication. This means ensuring practical, clear communication from sales reps to senior leadership - including the CEO himself!

Set realistic expectations when working with customers, employees, or other parties involved. Don't over-promise and under-deliver, as that will only lead to disappointment and mistrust from all involved.

John Bonavia accentuates that stakeholders provide another valuable reason to utilize relationship management software: visualizing stakeholder connections and effectively managing relationships. While companies typically rely on organizational charts and reporting lines to track formal relationships and reporting lines, Simply Stakeholders allows you to see beyond these structures to see how people are interconnecting - providing additional ways of providing value so your stakeholders are invested in working with you.

2. Be Consistent

Business relationship managers provide valuable service to their organization; however, for it to have any actual results, it must be consistent over time.

John Bonavia points out that establishing a regular check-in schedule with customers, clients, and business partners builds trust between both parties while staying abreast of any new information or requests that might arise. Doing this will allow for effective management and ensure you can deliver exceptional service.

As it can be time-consuming to record this information manually, having an easy-accessible record of everything can save time in the long run. Some businesses utilize stakeholder mapping tools as an effective solution. They enable teams and stakeholders to see how they are connected and where their requests overlap, saving everyone valuable time.

3. Be Flexible

Personal matters - such as caring for a newborn baby or moving home - may make it challenging to keep pace with work. Being flexible will enable your team to weather these obstacles successfully.

Flexible workers may be able to adjust deadlines for colleagues' circumstances or cover shifts when needed - all critical components of creating trustful and long-lasting relationships among coworkers.

Being flexible can also help you learn new skills more quickly. For instance, if your manager gives you extra responsibilities requiring knowledge you don't yet possess, being adaptable may enable you to meet them quickly.

John Bonavia highlights that establishing an environment that embraces true flexibility requires top-down and bottom-up processes. Leaders listen, set goals, and provide resources necessary for flexibility while employees select arrangements best suited to meet their individual needs.

4. Be Respectful

Everyone knows the saying, "Treat others as you wish to be treated." But this phrase goes much deeper. Respectful relationships at work help employees thrive, and according to a 2021 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, it was one of the major contributors to employee job satisfaction.

Respectfully treating team members means showing they matter as individuals. One way of showing this appreciation is listening and acknowledging their opinions or successes; open body language when communicating can also aid.

Respect is recognizing that each individual brings unique perspectives and talents to a team, which are integral to its success. When these views are included and built upon, all employees can feel somewhat equal in contributing - this helps reduce jealousy, backstabbing, and harassment at work.

5. Be Honest

Honesty and transparency are cornerstones of solid business relationships. John Bonavia elucidates that customers expect companies they do business with to be trustworthy and open about products, services, potential problems, etc. If a brand prioritizes dishonesty over Honesty, customers may lose faith in that brand and switch to competitors who value these qualities more highly.

Employees want their managers to be open and honest with them; those who feel their managers are forthcoming about workplace issues are 15 times more likely to remain engaged in their jobs.

Employees appreciate it when their managers are honest and open with them; this makes them more willing to express their ideas on ways to enhance the business, as per John Bonavia. But Honesty must be communicated with compassion, empathy, and tact; otherwise, you risk alienating those around you.

6. Be empathetic

Honesty isn't simply a strategy--it's at the core of every successful company's work culture and an effective way to foster customer trust and loyalty.

Honest communication with clients can help identify any potential problems early. From pricing and policies to any issues that might impede their experience, being open in these interactions is critical for their well-being and the success of your business.

When your customer experiences issues, be empathetic and committed to finding a solution. This shows your respect for integrity while working toward finding fair solutions for both parties involved.

Sometimes, it may be best to refrain from speaking up if it upsets or distresses your client. However, this shouldn't be used as an excuse to cut corners or lie; always prioritize Honesty over shortcuts when building trusting relationships with clients.