Business connections: defining the concept, reputation, connections, establishing relationships

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Success in business is impossible without establishing relationships with other people. Therefore, every business person tries to expand his circle of contacts, because any business or friendly relationship can become a necessary resource in business development. Let's talk about what connections and relationships are in the business world, how to develop connections, and why they are needed.

Concept

Any business is connected with communication, with business connections. Interaction with people allows you to increase resources, make the work of the organization more efficient. Therefore, the most important factor in the competitiveness and success of any entrepreneur is the ability to build communications in the field of functioning, business communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain business relationships. In any country, the presence of a developed system of business contacts for a businessman significantly increases his opportunities. After all, connections allow you to use not only your own resources, but also the “luggage” of partners and friends. The concept of business relations includes relationships with people inprofessional or business activities. Established contacts greatly increase the capabilities of the enterprise, because partners bring with them their own set of connections, reputation, experience, knowledge, and various resources. Therefore, establishing connections is the most important task of leaders and businessmen.

Specific business communication

Communication is a complex, multifaceted process within which relationships between business partners are built, business ties are strengthened and formed, and business goals are achieved. Business communication has the following characteristics:

• Regimentation. It is not in vain that there are rules of business etiquette and the norms of the communication code - they allow you to effectively communicate with different people in the field of business. The norms of such communication have been formed over the years and are a proven tool for productive interaction with partners.
• High degree of responsibility of communication participants for the result. Any connections in business communication are established in order to promote and develop the business, so the participants in communication cannot risk the reputation and future of the enterprise.
• Formal-role organization of the communication process. Interaction in the business sphere is built on the basis of the official and status distribution of roles, communication participants must comply with the subordination and rules of business etiquette.
• Neutrality and formality of relations. Within the framework of such relations, the manifestation of expression, the transition to personalities is unacceptable. Interaction and speech should retain a markedly formal note. For example, even spouses who work in the same company must keep their distance and use formal addresses.

Stages of business communication

Relationships in business are subject to fairly strict rules and regulations, they also apply to the sequence of actions in the course of interaction. In general terms, the following stages are distinguished in business communication:

• Preparatory. At this stage, it is necessary to comprehend the goals of the contact, prepare the necessary documents, and think over an interaction strategy.
• Solving organizational issues. For productive work, you need to choose a place and time for a meeting, determine its format and rules.
• Meeting and making contact. At this stage, it is extremely important to observe the norms of business etiquette and set up a partner in a positive way.
• Discussion of problems. At this stage, each side expresses its position on the main issues.
• Discussion. Participants in communication put forward arguments and counterarguments in defense of their position.
• Reaching agreements. At this stage, the search for the optimal solution to the problem is underway, a compromise is reached.
• Decision making. The parties confirm their agreement with the solution found.
• Fixation of agreements. The compromise reached must be included in the documents signed by all parties to the meeting.
• End of the meeting. At this stage, it is also very important to follow the rules of business etiquette.
• Analysis of results and feedback. In business communication, the meeting does not end with a farewell, you still need to conduct a “debriefing” and draw the necessary conclusions. To maintain established links, it is necessary to establish a communication mechanism.

Types of organizational relationships

Any enterprise interacts with external and internal audiences. On this basis, external and internal business relations of the organization are distinguished. But for the development of the company, the most interesting are still external relations with partners, potential investors, with representatives of the authorities, with consumers. There are also vertical and horizontal connections. The former include interaction with high-ranking officials: representatives of authorities at different levels, with leaders of larger organizations. The second means communication among equals: between managers of the same level, colleagues of structural units of the same level. There are also formal and informal connections, both direct and indirect.

Types of business communication

There are several classifications of business communications. Traditionally, they are divided into direct and indirect. The first type of communication takes place directly face to face, and the second - through intermediaries, including the use of technical means and documents. Communication and business relations are also divided into formal and informal. In the first case, communication is subject to strict rules of business etiquette, and in the second case, it differs morefree and friendly character. There is also a practice to divide communication into verbal and non-verbal.

Formal and informal connections

In the business sphere, communications are classified according to the degree of formalization. Formal connections are established between people within groups created on the basis of any documents. And informal connections are those that arise regardless of whether there are any documents for their foundation. So, a business or friendly relationship may arise between the heads of partner organizations. And formal relations are established between the heads of branches, or, for example, between rectors of universities. But formal ties do not exclude the emergence of informal ones, they can perfectly coexist.

Business communication tools

The most important communication tool is human language. Within the framework of business relations, the official-business style of speech is used for interaction. It is characterized by normalization, regulation, neutral tone of presentation, logicality, brevity and unambiguity. There is also a set of non-verbal means that mostly accompany business or friendships. Mutual relations are maintained with the help of facial expressions, gestures, body position in space, visual contact, etc. Documents are another tool of business communications. In them, information is recorded on a material carrier and allows you to legally consolidate relationships and agreements.

Features of establishing businessrelations

Communication in business takes place on mutually beneficial terms. Unlike friendships, establishing business relationships always involves extracting some benefit from this communication. But this state of affairs is not perceived negatively, as self-interest. Entrepreneurs understand that their communication can be an additional resource for their companies and therefore consciously enter into such relationships. Events such as industry exhibitions, conferences, forums, award ceremonies, etc. are specially organized to establish business relationships. People who can be useful to each other are invited to these events. Businessmen and managers specially attend such events with the hope of finding new partners, such communication is called networking, i.e., networking activities. A feature of the process of establishing business ties of the company is its duration and continuity, entrepreneurs have been developing connections for years, carefully protecting and supporting them.

Fields of networking in business

But apart from special events, entrepreneurs use every opportunity to expand the company's business ties. The main areas in which you can replenish your circle of useful acquaintances are:

• Circle of colleagues. Each person has their own social circles and you can use this to make new friends.
• Partners. Each organization has its own circle of connections and you can make it your own.
• The place of study. Not intentionallymanagement experts say that building a career should begin while studying. It is known that many classmates willingly support each other later in doing business.
• Rest, leisure. It is no secret that many connections are established in an informal setting: in sanatoriums, fitness clubs, interest clubs, resorts, you can find useful people everywhere who will later help develop your business.

Resources for building long-term business relationships

In order to build effective business communication, it is necessary to use certain resources. These include the personal qualities of an entrepreneur: sociability, politeness, friendliness. All this facilitates the process of establishing and maintaining business relationships. Also, these resources include initiative, the ability to establish contacts, curiosity, openness. Also, the resources for establishing connections are the ability to conduct a conversation, a broad outlook, and a willingness to help.

Reputation and business connections

Established business relationships are an indicator of the success of a businessman. But there is also a direct correlation between business connections and the reputation of the entrepreneur, the organization he represents. A person with a positive image, known as a professional in his field, will find partners and acquaintances more easily. Therefore, a businessman should not only strive to maximize his circle of contacts, but also carefully protect his reputation, not getting involved with dubious personalities whocan damage the image of the entrepreneur. A good reputation allows you to make acquaintances with respectable, influential people. Reputation also helps to attract the attention of government officials, investors, and promising partners. Therefore, in pursuit of new connections, an entrepreneur should not forget about his image and the reputation of the company.

Value in business

Why do businessmen spend so many resources on establishing business relationships? Then, that quality connections are, in fact, money for business. Useful contacts will help you get more orders, solve various organizational issues at a lower cost. Business connections are an invaluable resource for business development. Dating allows you to attract additional knowledge, information, skills to business and thereby contribute to its growth and greater profitability.