Career growth is often framed around individual effort: developing new skills, taking on bigger responsibilities and finding the next opportunity. But there's another piece that can make a lasting difference: the relationships you build along the way.
Having people in your corner can open doors, offer new perspectives and help you navigate challenges. Just as important is becoming that person for someone else.
At a recent NextGen Center leadership workshop, facilitator Jordan Cain led a conversation with panelists Katy Jones, CEO of TrustWell; Dipak Mahato, entrepreneur and consultant; and Margaret McNab, independent strategic communications and marketing consultant.
Together, they explored the different relationships that move careers forward, how to build those connections with intention, and why the best professional relationships start simply being human.
Here are some of the biggest takeaways from their conversation.
1. Not every important professional relationship looks the same
When people think about career relationships, they often think about mentors and mentees. However, as Jordan pointed out, there's a whole world of valuable connections in between meeting someone and developing a close mentoring relationship.
Those connections might include a peer in another department, a former colleague, a business partner, a trusted sounding board or someone who regularly connects you with other people.
Dipak shared that his own professional relationships have taken many different forms, including his connection with Margaret. The two first met through a professional cohort, and their relationship grew over time.
Today, they share opportunities, make introductions and help each other navigate their professional circles.
"Every one of you is a unique individual, and whoever you meet is also," Dipak explained. "And so what you build is going to be different."
Don't put every professional connection into a predefined box. Some relationships will become close friendships. Others might lead to a business opportunity or a fresh perspective. Some may simply help you understand a different part of your industry.
2. Start with curiosity, not a career objective
One of the biggest challenges people raised during the workshop was finding ways to build relationships without making them feel transactional.
Between busy schedules, remote work, introversion and the pressure to make a good impression, connecting with people doesn't always come naturally.
Margaret offered a simple way to approach it: Start by treating the other person like a person, not a professional opportunity.
She shared that becoming a CEO helped her see titles differently.
"Putting C in front of something doesn't change who an individual is as a person. It doesn't make them any more important or any less human."
Instead of worrying about what to say to someone with an impressive title, start by asking about their background, interests, or experience.
Margaret also encouraged people to look for common ground beyond their job titles.
At networking events, she often starts with something as simple as a comment about the food. It's an easy way to open a conversation without putting pressure on either person.
3. Build relationships through small, everyday moments
Many of the most meaningful professional connections grow out of everyday interactions, not just at conferences, networking events or scheduled coffee meetings.
Margaret hilariously described herself as a "kitchen loiterer" because informal moments in shared spaces can make it easier for people to connect. Grabbing lunch, chatting over coffee or spending a few minutes talking before a meeting creates opportunities to get to know someone outside their usual role.
As Jordan pointed out, remote work requires a little more creativity. Without a shared kitchen or office hallway, people have to find other ways to create those informal moments.
One example involved a colleague whose cat appeared on screen during a virtual meeting. Jordan sent a message asking him to bring the cat back into view. That small interaction created a connection that made future conversations easier.
The lesson applies whether you work in person, remotely or in a hybrid environment: Look for small opportunities to interact with people beyond the immediate task at hand.
4. Make relationship-building a habit, even when it feels uncomfortable
Several participants brought up a common challenge: Finding the time and confidence to maintain professional relationships.
For some, networking takes a lot of emotional energy. Others struggle to follow through on plans to reconnect or feel uncomfortable approaching people they don't know.
Dipak acknowledged that even experienced professionals can feel nervous when meeting someone in a position of influence.
He shared a story about meeting a new CEO while working at Pfizer. Despite feeling relatively senior himself, he was nervous about making a good impression. That nervousness affected how he communicated, and he walked away feeling embarrassed.
The experience taught him that relationship-building takes practice.
"The more you practice, the more ready you will be for anything," he said.
For people who find networking especially challenging, Dipak recommended starting with a simple structure.
A few ways to practice include:
Prepare an introduction: Develop a short, 30-second explanation of who you are and what you do. Practice until it feels natural.
Set a small goal: Instead of trying to meet everyone at an event, aim to have a couple of conversations.
Keep conversations moving: Give people room to connect with others rather than feeling like you need to hold their attention for an entire event.
Follow up with context: Send a LinkedIn connection request or message that reminds someone where you met and what you discussed.
5. Be someone who creates opportunities for others
Building relationships is equally about becoming someone others can count on.
That means making introductions, sharing opportunities, offering a different perspective and being willing to help without expecting something in return.
Margaret shared a powerful example of how one professional relationship grew into something much bigger.
After returning to independent consulting, she reached out to people in her network to share what she wanted to do next. One of those connections introduced her to a former executive who was starting a life sciences nonprofit.
Margaret initially assumed she wasn't the right person for the project because she didn't have a background in biotech. Joan saw something different: Margaret's experience working with entrepreneurs was exactly what the organization needed.
They became business partners and spent years building the nonprofit into a local and national success.
Interestingly, the relationship didn't grow solely through professional collaboration.
Margaret recalled one morning when she arrived at their workspace feeling down after learning that musician Tom Petty had died. Rather than jumping straight into work, she shared how she was feeling.
That moment of personal connection changed their working relationship.
Nearly 10 years later, the two have continued collaborating, referring opportunities to one another, and playing important roles in each other's lives.
Margaret's story is a reminder that meaningful professional relationships often grow from unexpected places. They require more than shared business interests. They grow through trust, shared experiences and a willingness to show up as yourself.
Jordan offered another practical way to put this into action: Connect other people.
If you know two people who could benefit from meeting each other, make the introduction. You don't have to be the person with all the answers or the biggest network. You can create value by helping others find the right connections.
Put your relationships into action
The strongest career relationships develop gradually, through consistent conversations, shared work, and showing up for people again and again.
You don't need an elaborate strategy to get started. You need a willingness to be curious, make time for people and offer something of value in return.
Here are a few ways to put the conversation into practice:
Reconnect with someone: Reach out to a former colleague or professional connection you've been meaning to catch up with. Suggest a specific time rather than leaving it at "We should get together sometime."
Make an introduction: Think of two people in your network who could benefit from knowing each other and help them connect.
Start a new conversation: Find someone in another department, industry or professional circle you'd like to know better. Ask about their experience.
Offer a different perspective: Think about someone you work with and consider how you can help them see a challenge in a new way.
Follow through: If you offer to help, make an introduction or share a resource, take the time to do it.
Ultimately, the relationships that move your career forward aren't always the ones you expect. They might start with a conversation over lunch, a shared interest or an introduction from someone you already know.
While it's important to have people in your corner, don't forget to be in someone else's, too.
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