Will They Take My Call? Assessing Relationship Value Beyond the Screen

How much do we really know about our professional connections? New data tells us that, on sites like LinkedIn, even though we may gather over 500 connections, less than 15% of these connections are actually engaging.

This begs the question, are we truly using our networks to their full potential, or are we simply collecting names?

If my experiences have shown me anything, it’s that the real power of professional networking and relationship value isn't found in the volume of connections but in the strength, depth, and relevance of those relationships.

Yet, when we turn to today's popular tools—your LinkedIn, Outlook, and Salesforce of the world—they're great at showing us who we're connected to, but they fall drastically short when it comes to showing us how strong those connections actually are.

I’ve been trying to crack this code for a while now—how to really know the value behind each handshake, connection request, and exchanged business card. Do these folks genuinely understand what we're all about? Would they stand up for us and recommend us, or are we just another contact in their ever-growing list?

This is when I developed the idea of Rich Relationship VUE™. My way of digging deeper into networking strategies is that they offer insights beyond the surface level.

Defining Rich Relationship VUE

It’s no longer just about counting how many people you know or follow or how many people follow you. Real impact in whatever outcome you seek from your relationships is all about understanding the real quality behind all of your connections.

VUE pushes us to look beyond the surface, asking not just "Who are you really?" but "How do we most impactfully relate to one another?" and "What value do we share?"

This shift could mean a lot, especially for those of us trying to make our networks work harder for our careers. Every connection must count. It must go deeper rather than just wider. That's where the real magic of networking strategies and relationship value lies.

Implementing Rich Relationship VUE in Your Networking

So, how do I put Rich Relationship VUE into practice? Like most things, it begins with a shift in your mindset. It starts by understanding that every interaction, whether online or offline, is an opportunity to nurture a relationship that's rooted in value, understanding, and engagement.

Here are my steps to implementing Rich Relationship VUE effectively.

Evaluate Your Existing Connections

The first step in applying Rich Relationship VUE is honestly looking at who's in your network right now. This means reviewing your contacts list and thinking about each individual.

I ask myself questions such as: How well do I know them? What have we both gotten out of this relationship thus far? Were our interactions particularly meaningful?

• Thinking About Mutual Value: I take a moment to think about what we've both contributed to the relationship. If I can't think of any real value we've exchanged, it's a hint that maybe I need to invest more time, effort, or resources into that relationship.

• Understanding Each Other: Knowing more than just what someone does and who they really are is particularly important if you want to move beyond transactional contacts to real, meaningful, and authentic relationships. I try to remember if we've ever talked about their strategic desired goals or outcomes and whether they know mine. This helps me see how well we really understand each other and what motivates us to move, make decisions, act, and prioritize others.

• Quality of Engagement: I also consider how often we talk or meet and what those conversations are like. Are we just saying hi every now and then, or are we having meaningful, impactful, insightful, or otherwise memorable discussions?

By doing this, I can start to see which of my connections actually fit with the VUE idea. This doesn't mean I give up on the others. Instead, I see them as chances to build something more meaningful. Each step here is about being thoughtful and intentional with my network.

Reach Out and Reconnect

Once the evaluation of my current connections is complete, the next move involves contacting those individuals I have pinpointed as important relationships that have the potential to be strengthened.

• Personalized Messages: For each person I decide to reconnect with, I write a message that’s tailored specifically to them. This might reference a past conversation, congratulate them on a recent achievement, or offer insight into a challenge they’re facing. The goal is to show that I’m genuinely interested in what’s happening in their lives and careers.

• Setting Up Meetings: I suggest a face-to-face meeting or a video call where possible. This gives us a chance to have a real conversation that can strengthen our connection. During these meetings, I focus on listening, understanding their current goals, asking better questions to (respectfully) challenge their assumptions and assertions, and exploring how we might help each other move forward.

• Offering Value: In every interaction, I ask myself, “How can I add value?” This could be through sharing a relevant article, introducing them to someone in my network, or offering my expertise on a subject they’re interested in. I always focus on making the relationship a two-way street by reciprocating first!

Bringing It All Together with Avnir

So, we’ve explored the importance of diving deeper into our professional networks and truly assessing the value, understanding, and engagement (VUE) of our connections, but the question remains: How can we systematically and efficiently implement these strategies in our day-to-day networking efforts? 

The answer lies in Avnir.

Avnir—The Best Relationship Intelligence Tool for Networking Strategies

Always in beta mode, Avnir is leading the way in changing the landscape of intelligent relationship development strategies. Our Composite AI platform rolling out to alpha customers this month, signifies a paradigm shift.

Avnir was created to seamlessly integrate into your relationship strategy, allowing you to efficiently organize, activate, and monetize both known and hidden relationships like never before.

Harnessing Decades of Insights

With AI that leverages decades of Relationship Economics® insights, Avnir goes beyond the superficial layers of networking. We understand that your network is your net worth, which is why our platform is built to help you get the most out of every connection.

From organizing your contacts to activating dormant relationships and identifying opportunities for monetization, Avnir ensures that every interaction counts. It’s set to be the very best customer relationship management software in the market.

Join Our Beta Release Program

Be one of the first to witness the incredible impact of Avnir. Join our Beta Release Program to get exclusive early access to our relationship intelligence tool, witness a demo of its capabilities, and open doors to new networking opportunities. This is your chance to redefine networking and relationship management in your professional life.

A Perfect Fit for Rich Relationship VUE Practitioners

Often, we navigate through our professional lives making assumptions about the health, depth, and quality of our connections. Without the insights provided by Rich Relationship VUE, we're left questioning the strength of introductions and the history behind our connections.

Avnir addresses these challenges head-on, ensuring you no longer have to guess whether a relationship is superficial or has the potential to withstand and thrive through conflict.

If you're committed to adopting Rich Relationship VUE, Avnir is the best intelligent relationship management platform to complement and enhance your efforts. Our platform aligns perfectly with the principles of Value, Understanding, and Engagement, providing the relationship intelligence tools and insights needed to elevate your networking strategy.

Join Avnir, and be part of a community that values deep, meaningful professional relationships. With our platform, you're strategically building connections that are primed for success, backed by the power of AI and decades of Relationship Economics® insights.