The Power of Relationship Building

With the world of work dramatically changing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also consider the key competencies and skill sets that are needed to manage both our personal and professional lives. According to Udemy Business in their 2022 Workplace Learning Trends Report, reframing the way we talk about skills is needed to adapt to remote and hybrid forms of work.

Basic work competencies have been referred to as “soft skills” in the past. However, the term “Power Skills” is emerging as a way to describe essential skills needed to navigate the landscape of work today. These are the key skills that help you stand out to employers and that give you power to communicate, lead, and collaborate more effectively in the workplace and in your day-to-day life. (Udemy Business, 2022 Workplace Learning Trends Report)

Building relationships – with peers, mentors, colleagues, managers, industry leaders, students – is a key power skill for you to develop and hone. This is the first of four skills we’ll be focusing on throughout this fall semester.

Why is this skill so important?

Having strong relationships at work is how you get access to opportunities and resources, mentors and sponsors, and helps you navigate organizational politics.

Knowing how to build relationships provides real health and wellbeing impacts, gives you meaning and purpose, and allows you to create a trusted network of friends.

Watch our short, 10-minute webinar below to learn more about why being able to build effective relationships is so critical to growing your career and network. Plus, get some quick tips and strategies for how to put the “build relationships” skill into everyday practice.