In any relationship, chemistry is important. Consider a first date. Both parties are on their best behavior, trying to figure out if they have a connection.  Is it worth pursuing? The woman might try to impress her date by brushing up on her travel knowledge, while the man might try to woo his date by discussing his love of cooking. For anyone who has spent much time in the dating world, finding that right chemistry match can be brutal. There are great dates with an instant connection as well as very, very bad dates.

The same is true in business relationships between employees, clients and vendors. When considering new clients, we often decide whether to take on business based on the level of chemistry between our team and the client. We want to ensure an agreeable match so that no one is led astray or disappointed.

Additionally, when hiring new employees, our firm conducts group interviews to get a sense of whether chemistry exists between the candidate and current employees.

So what can you do to get to the second “date”? We’ve outlined a few steps worth considering to make a good impression and build a solid relationship in the professional world.

• Listen. Whether you are giving a presentation, interviewing a candidate or having coffee with a potential client, make sure you don’t just talk—listen. When you ask questions and listen, people generally feel valued and more connected. If you talk nonstop, it instead gives the impression that you aren’t interested in the other person or their goals.
• Be Human. Chemistry is often determined based on more than just the meeting topic. Connections can be established on a personal level that help form a business relationship. For example, if you share with a prospective client that your kids play soccer and he or she relates, a bond is created. We often are so focused on “wooing” the other person that we forget to let our personality show, a side people often appreciate.
• Be Proactive.  It isn’t enough to just have an initial meeting. You need to make an honest effort to keep the relationship alive. Just like a romantic date, you can’t expect the magic to happen immediately after you went to dinner. You have to foster the relationship. For example, if you meet with a prospective client and later come across an article that might be of personal or professional interest to him or her, send it on over. Even in the business world, it makes people feel good to know you are thinking of them.

It would be nice if, when conducting business, you could simply plug your information into a site, find a match based on compatibility and determine whether you have good chemistry, like many dating sites claim to do. But for now, you’ll have to rely on the work you do and the relationships you are able to cultivate.

For additional tips about building relationships and networking, please visit:

• It’s Who You Know  5/23/13
• The Power of Networking: Fostering Relationships and Building Business 7/13/09