Interested in learning more about building productive professional relationships? Check this out! - Clear, common sense tips and techniques for creating an immediate and meaningful difference in the workplace; - Keys to building and maintaining effective professional relationships; - Tips for avoiding common behaviors that sabotage work relationships; - Ways to improve communication and reduce miscommunication; - Strategies for holding more productive meetings: and - Skills for dealing with difficult colleagues and situations.

1. BUILDING BRIDGES:BUILDING BRIDGES:
FORGING PRODUCTIVE
PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Marny Lifshen
Author and Speaker
NAWIC | August 2016

2. First, you tell me…
• Who do you need to have good working
relationships with?
• What problems do you often encounter?
• How would positive professional
relationships help you?

3. So what does all this mean?
“It’s not just what you know,
it’s who you know… AND
how well you work together.”

4. Avoid Relationship Sabotage:
• DON’T take things too personally
• DON’T dominate conversations or relationships
• DON’T fail to follow-through or be flexible
• DON’T limit yourself with cliques
• DON’T fail to maintain connection
• DON’T burn bridges

5. Apply Relationship Boosters:
• DO see things from their perspective
• DO offer solutions when addressing problems
• DO value cooperation and express appreciation
• DO welcome diversity
• DO identify and focus on critical relationships

6. • Communication can make or break a professional
relationship
• There is no “right” or “wrong” way
• Communication is a behavior/skill that can be
improved
• Communication is always a two-way street
What we have here is a failure to
communicate…

7. Communication is 3 Dimensional
Communication is both verbal and non-verbal
1.Words/Verbal
2.Tone/Vocal
3.Physical/Visual
Choose the right tool!

8. Tips for reducing miscommunication
• Include as many stakeholders as possible as early as
possible
• When in doubt, ask questions
• Observe body languages and voice cues
• End an interaction with a brief summary
• Take notes

9. Perception is reality,
Adaptation is KING!
• However people are perceiving you, they are right.
• Accept that and learn to change how you are being
perceived.
• Adapting how you interact with others gives you
power.
• Accept that and begin to think, plan and adjust
before you begin to interact.

10. Overcoming Barriers:
• Cultural
• Generational
• Gender
• Geographical
• Role
• Personality

11. Overcoming Barriers:
• Be strategic & adapt to their style
• Find a way to connect, go off-agenda
• Dedicate time to build the relationship
• Focus on clarity, consistency and responsiveness

12. Dealing with difficult colleagues,
conversations and situations:
• Set realistic expectations
• Be prepared
• Listen more than you talk
• Stick with the agenda
• Remember the relationship is more important than
the meeting
• Watch for your “tells”

13. Questions?
Marny Lifshen
Author and Speaker
NAWIC | August 2016