How can you build relationships with people who are far away?

One of my favorite principles of Networking is Network When You Do Not Need Anything From The Other Person. Call just like that to keep in touch. Give instead of Ask. Be genuine. You will end up making deep relationships that can be of help when you really need. Remember the movie Godfather!!! “I may come to you for help someday, and that day may never come, but till that time consider this as a gift on my daughters wedding day”

I have been working remote before it was the norm following the pandemic, working with multi national teams scattered all over the globe. Some of them I met them once, most of them, we have never met physically, but yet, we keep in touch and LinkedIn and FB from that regard are powerful enablers. I have found that when you show a genuine interest in the people you work with, interest in their lives, beyond work, interest in their culture, their context, people return the favor and a long term bond is established that goes beyond work. I also have a concept that I call de-virtualizing, which also works within the confines of the same town, the simple act of having lunch with a colleague or someone referred to me. Relationships matter.

This one I take to heart… I’ve lived in 5 different cities for extended periods of time during my 12 year career post undergrad. With that has come numerous deep relationships in cities across the US. In order to keep these relationships deep and meaningful I do a few things 1) I don’t let three months go without calling an out of town friend on the phone 2) Each call lasts at least 20-30 minutes to cover all areas of life (work, family, friends, challenges) 3) Do my best to text, tag, DM these friends during the in between of those phone calls 4) awareness of when those efforts are not being reciprocated and coming to terms with the fact that some friendships and relationships are seasonal in life and it’s OK to let some go

In my experience, fostering relationships with individuals at a distance hinges on regular and consistent communication. Striking the right balance in terms of frequency, mode, and purpose is paramount. Establishing a clear and realistic schedule ensures you neither overwhelm nor neglect your remote contacts. Tailoring your communication mode—be it email, phone, video call, or chat—to each situation is essential for effective connection. Equally important is communicating with a purpose, whether it's sharing information, seeking feedback, offering support, or expressing appreciation. By approaching communication thoughtfully, you not only maintain engagement but also strengthen the foundation of your long-distance relationships.

In my experience working across global teams, more than showing empathy, being there when needed, acknowledging the other persons suggestions, et al… the biggest, quickest and the easiest way of building networks with ppl far away is to show your face on video calls. “Nothing works best than ‘face value’”. Today’s generation have so much problems to turn on their Video Camera for various reasons and they lose a lot of things because of it. Video Call even for the smallest conversation makes someone feel near and confident on the other person. Everything other than this comes in very easy between two ppl over Professional Meetings.

To stay connected with the people who are far from you, its important to stay in touch with them regularly. Take feedbacks from them, its helps us to understand their POV and accordingly we can work on that. It wont take more than 15min to connect with someone virtually. As a trainer it’s our core duty to stay connected with people.

‘Long distance relationships don’t work’ I challenge this! Many of the best clients relationships I have forged, have been with people I have never met in person, yet ! I was blown away by a wonderful email this Christmas from a lawyer with whom I only exchanged emails and a couple intense teams calls during negotiation of a super stressful deal . They shared how much fun every exchange was. They expressed a heartfelt email wanting to stay in touch and thanking me for being so lovely !! They are based somewhere I’ll probably never visit and their busy lifestyle means it will be near impossible to come to London . But …what we created were MEANINGFUL MOMENTS and we became UNFORGETTABLE to each other.

‘Long distance relationships don’t work’ I challenge this! Many of the best clients relationships I have forged, have been with people I have never met in person, yet ! I was blown away by a wonderful email this Christmas from a lawyer with whom I only exchanged emails and a couple intense teams calls during negotiation of a super stressful deal . They shared how much fun every exchange was. They expressed a heartfelt email wanting to stay in touch and thanking me for being so lovely !! They are based somewhere I’ll probably never visit and their busy lifestyle means it will be near impossible to come to London . But …what we created were MEANINGFUL MOMENTS and we became UNFORGETTABLE to each other.

In my experience as an Account Manager for a telecommunications company, a lot of your technical and infrastructure colleagues sit in various countries throughout the region or internationally. Regular communication through virtual calls helps to bridge the gap and is an easy way to build relationships. Keeping your finger on the pulse of what's happening in their region as a conversation starter ( even if it's just about the weather) shows you have a vested interest in establishing a good working environment.

Linkedin and attending conferences, following up and staying in touch. Most importantly truly caring about the person, not just your interests.

Vulnerability breeds vulnerability & connection. When you share vulnerably, like how you tried & failed thus far, at a challenge, the other person is likely to share vulnerably as well. This deepens connection. And, as you take genuine interest in the other person, take notes on what might help them and their challenges. With these insights you can share relevant articles you read with them and/or send notes of encouragement from time to time related to their challenge as you know exactly what they're up against. You can send the articles as you find them or save them in a google doc & share them on a more consistent basis, monthly, quarterly etc. Connecting deeply & helping the others learn & grow drives connection no matter your location.

Be genuine with your inquiries. People know when you are actually interested in their responses to your questions. Relationships form when both parties believe the other has their best interests. Build trust and the communication will flow. The frequency of the communication will also become fluent as the bond grows.

Building relationships with people who are far away involves showing genuine interest and empathy. Ask about their experiences, feelings, and challenges, and actively listen to their responses. Share your thoughts and experiences to create a reciprocal exchange. Be supportive and understanding, acknowledging their perspective even if you may not fully relate. Utilize virtual platforms for video calls or messages to maintain a more personal connection. Express empathy during difficult times and celebrate their successes, demonstrating that you genuinely care about their well-being. By consistently showing interest and empathy, you strengthen the emotional bond and foster a deeper connection despite the physical distance.

You will find building relationships difficult if you can't show interest in the other person's life. You don't have to agree with their perspectives, but to build & maintain a healthy relationship you must have some connection with them. When they are most vulnerable, exhibiting true empathy, along with deep active listening will help deepen the relationship. Likewise, you also must allow yourself to be seen as vulnerable, and open up to being truly seen by the other person. The best relationships are built on trust and balance; each person contributing their strengths and also being willing to expose their weaknesses. The balance does not have to be exactly reciprocal but both parties must feel like they both give and receive

It shows when you connect with someone and you have an agenda in mind... It doesn't feel authentic and people can smell it from far away! Empathy will definitely lead you far and make you stand out from all these other people who only have their own interest in mind...

Quality of your relationships have a huge impact on quality of your life. The better they are, the better your day to day life is. Building your network requires time and attention, also interest and empathy in people's personalities. Quality professional connections impact your personal life as well. I have many collogues and clients who are friends of mine today. Also I have friends I have started to work with. The emotional support and heathy environment is curtail in order to build a strong team. It is also valuable if you are able to share hobbies, passions and goals. A good manager should be always ready to communicate if something is good or bad for the team.

Isso é essencial e sempre foi uma premissa de relacionamento para mim. Há interesse em toda relação (não precisamos nos sentir mal por isso), mas é importante que o interesse seja sincero, genuíno. Não há nada pior que receber uma mensagem de uma pessoa que finge interesse e é desmascarada quando você começa a conversar com ela e percebe: ela não sabe nada sobre mim...

In my experience, building relationships from a remote perspective involves listening to your contacts/direct reports or vendors for a better understanding of business situations, needs and what is required or rather what is the ask. Reinforcing the value of their contributions. Making time for them and being present are important ways to build upon collaboration and drive trust. It is often the little things that are important such as consitently being on camera (unless it is impossible) so that while being remote you can still see and build upon relationships and learn from visual cues. This all makes it more personalized and most importantly productive.

Building relationships with people who are far away involves a collaborative approach and a willingness to learn. Seek opportunities to collaborate on shared projects or interests, fostering a sense of teamwork. Actively participate in virtual meetings, workshops, or collaborative platforms to engage in joint learning experiences. Share your knowledge and insights while being open to learning from others, creating a mutual exchange. Utilize online tools for collaborative projects and encourage skill-sharing. By working together and embracing continuous learning, you strengthen the connection and contribute to the growth of the relationship, transcending physical distances.

Collaboration, when done right, strengthens all relationships, and when working from a distance on the same project, it is essential that the exchange of ideas and sharing of skill sets remains open and flowing. Everyone comes to a project or problem solving with different perspectives, and the tools they naturally turn to in working on projects or solving problems. In addition to sharing your own perspective and go-to tools, be open to learning your remote partner's perspective and willing to learn new skills that neither of you possess at the beginning of the project. When the team is prepared to collaborate for the benefit of the project, the relationships become stronger and all of the team members benefit far into the future.

Seja verdadeiramente disponível, dentro das suas possibilidades. Digo "dentro das suas possibilidades", para não dar menos e nem mais. Colaborar e aprender é uma coisa, fazer de graça é outra e já vi isso acontecendo em muitas relações. É importante se atentar para isso também.

To build relationships with people across varying distances, it's important to communicate regularly, use multiple modes of communication suited to the individual, and show interest and empathy in the person you're interacting with. I do all of these things in my role as an Academic Counselor with University of Phoenix. I consider these things when communicating with the students I support, and I do the same with all my coworkers, most of whom work from home like I do. It's so important to build strong and positive relationships at work (and everywhere!), especially when you're not physically near people. Developing and using these communication skills helps everyone to have a more positive experience with you.

Relationship building is all about compromise. It's important to make sure that you are open to shifting things, adding or removing, and adapting. It's not in your best interest to go and try to build a relationship being an immovable object set in your ways, you have to be flexible.

Building relationships with people who are far away requires being flexible and adaptable. Recognize and respect different time zones, schedules, and communication preferences. Be open to adjusting meeting times and methods to accommodate everyone involved. Embrace diverse perspectives and cultural nuances, allowing for a more inclusive and understanding connection. Utilize various communication platforms and tools that cater to everyone's accessibility. Stay open to changes in plans and be responsive to the evolving needs of the relationship. By demonstrating flexibility and adaptability, you create a more accommodating and resilient foundation for a strong connection, regardless of the geographical distance.

Flexibility and adapt are important as is working together to understand what is best for all parties especially when you have multiple time zones. Use the different time zones, if possible, for 1:1 time which further shortens the distance and creates further sense of value for all parties involved. However, often mutually agreed boundaries or rather honest communication go a long way in driving desired outcomes for the business and the people involved.

Ser reciprocamente flexível e adaptável. Esses elementos são essenciais para qualquer tipo de relação; pessoas que estão longe e estão perto. O que você faz para ter tempo ao outro? - Nada: essa relação, talvez não seja tão importante para você. Será que faz sentido mantê-la? - Tudo: essa relação está precisando de um limite. Você não pode se sacrificar em nome do outro. Pense nisso 💜

Building relationships with people who are far away is about having fun and being yourself. Incorporate enjoyable elements into your virtual interactions, such as sharing funny anecdotes, playing online games together, or organizing virtual events. Be authentic and let your personality shine, allowing others to see the real you. Share your interests and encourage them to do the same, creating common ground for connection. Use humor to lighten the virtual atmosphere and make interactions enjoyable. By fostering a lighthearted and genuine environment, you build a connection that transcends distance, making the relationship more enjoyable and meaningful for everyone involved.

O humor, quando bem utilizado, é um ótimo antídoto para quebrar gelos e gerar intimidade; o que precisamos desenvolver em qualquer relação. Seja você... isso é fundamental! Se você precisa ser outra pessoa para se relacionar com alguém, avalie se faz sentido manter essa relação. Uma boa relação é aquele construída na troca de autenticidades. Você é você e o outro também 💜

I am a big fan of sending snail mail, whether it be little gifts that you pick up along the way that reminds you of them or a handwritten note. It goes a long way. For friends, I will gather little items here and there and then send once I have a few to fit in a package--sometimes "just because" and others for special occasions. For clients, I like to send a gift around the holidays as a thank you.

Taking a long-term view on building relationships can make it easier to stay patient when dealing with the challenges that come with distance. We all know how much of a drag scheduling can be, especially when time zones and calendars clash. The endless back-and-forth can leave us feeling like we're not a priority, making it harder to put in the necessary effort to connect, but we can't take that personally. What's worked well for me in the past has been scheduling recurring calls with the people I care about. Whether it's a monthly or quarterly chat, they serve as helpful reminders to connect. Often, they get shuffled around now and then, but it prevents months or even years from slipping by without contact.

I've worked with customers and coworkers spanning across 10+ countries. One thing that has helped me build relationships is to ask about their life outside of work (interests, hobbies, side projects, talents, family, etc.). Some may say it's taboo to talk about personal things but not if the other person welcomes it, or if they're the ones initiating the discussion. Be kind. Be genuinely interested in others. Plus, you're bound to learn a thing or two along the way!

I send cards and gifts sometimes to let them know I am grateful for them. Mostly hand made gifts like candles and beeswax cloths to cover dishes without having to use plastic wrap.

Esteja constantemente em contato, entendendo o constantemente como aquele período ideal para aquela relação (nem de mais, nem de menos). Quando você deixa de atualizar o seu progresso, desafios e conquistas (e vice-versa), a relação perde força 👇👇👇 1) Pense em uma relação importante para você. 2) Qual foi a última coisa importante na sua vida que você compartilhou com essa pessoa?

Send people physical mail!!!!!!!! I can not state this strong enough. If you want to build a strong relationship over great distances you should send letters and care packages. People just don’t do this anymore and it makes such a big difference in being present in someone’s life when you are physically far away.

Whenever you think of someone, act on it. Send that person a text, shoot them an email, or give them a call. If something in your life or theirs--a promotion, a big game, or a news story--makes you think of someone, say so. Authentic, personal connection sustains relationships, especially when folks are far away.

2020 showed us the power of virtual relationship building capabilities but don't forget original old school methods like hand written cards/letters and sending a physical gift (instead of an electronic gift card). Schedule time dedicated to getting to know them, make notes, write it down somewhere. Send a birthday card, have specific questions you ask to gain data on their likes (hobbies, food, candy for small treats, favorite local restaurants, etc). Be intentional about the information you collect so you can use it to their benefit later.

Com os smartphones a verdade é: hoje, acabaram-se as desculpas para manter as relações com as pessoas que estão longe. Se aquela relação é importante para você, alimente; acompanhe a pessoa nas redes sociais e abra espaço na sua agenda para conversar com elas. Quando as pessoas são importantes pra gente, precisamos CONVERSAR com elas. O que hoje, paradoxalmente, fazemos pouco.