Activity: Developing High Quality Connections

How might developing high quality connections (HQCs) nurture new and existing relationships in your community? In order to develop HQCs you need to build trust and be the one to step up to interact, be vulnerable, and sustain connections. Trust is the bedrock and pivotal component for building connections and relationships, which also encompasses integrity and confidentiality. 

In conjunction to trust, initiating time to meet and maintain contact is critical. This means that in the beginning you expend the effort to send out invites to connect, respond and follow up on ALL communication (emails, texts, LinkedIn and calls) within a 24-hour time frame (review the video, Want to Network Better? Follow These 5 Tips From Master Connectors (Downes, 2019) in the Unit Introduction.) You need to keep the communication exchange going and continue to uncover common interests to keep the relationship active. Hopefully, over time your new connection will value the relationship and reciprocate, so the involvement becomes a two-way street. 

The following scenarios prompt you to ponder the actions that may or may not develop HQCs. There are reflective questions to answer after each scenario.

Download the Developing High Quality Connections Worksheet