Effective relationship building allows you to establish trust, communicate effectively and achieve buy-in from stakeholders at all levels of your organisation.

This is essential to your success as a CLO and involves developing strong bonds with the CEO, CFO and HR. 

These relationships are crucial because they help you gain support for your initiatives, secure resources and create buy-in for your programmes. 

It's important to understand their priorities and perspectives and know how to communicate your vision in a way that aligns with their goals.

Meet, listen, respond

You should be proactive and schedule regular meetings with these stakeholders and be prepared to listen and respond to their concerns. 

Keep them informed of your progress and successes, highlighting the impact of your programmes on the organisation's bottom line. 

If you can’t measure the impact on the bottom line, then make sure you’re at least reporting on ROE (return on expectations) to ensure everyone is on the right track. 

Each of your stakeholders has unique priorities, and understanding these will help you communicate your vision effectively, aligning your learning initiatives with broader organisational goals

Showcase the relevance of your initiatives

Each of your stakeholders has unique priorities, and understanding these will help you communicate your vision effectively, aligning your learning initiatives with broader organisational goals.

For instance, the CEO is often concerned with the overall strategic direction and growth of the company. 

Demonstrating how your learning initiatives will contribute to these broader objectives will be crucial in gaining their support. 

The CFO, meanwhile, is primarily focused on financial stability and growth. So, when dealing with the CFO, it's important to highlight the cost-effectiveness of your programmes and how they positively impact the company's bottom line. 

HR, on the other hand, is typically concerned with employee development and retention. Showing how your initiatives improve employee skills, engagement, and retention rates would be important in gaining their endorsement. 

Remember, relationship building requires consistent effort. By investing time and effort in building these internal relationships, you can gain the necessary support to successfully drive your learning initiatives forward.

Online tools like Mural can help you to map and manage your stakeholders.

Networking with peers in the industry

Growing your network and building relationships with other CLOs and learning leaders is also crucial for success. Sharing knowledge and best practice can help you stay up to date on industry trends and advance your career. 

Attending industry events, such as conferences, seminars and workshops, is an excellent way to meet and connect with peers. These events often offer opportunities for networking, sharing ideas, and learning about the latest trends and technologies in our industry. 

Online forums and social media platforms are another great avenue to explore. Participating in relevant discussions, asking questions, and sharing insights can help you build relationships with professionals from all over the world.

Relationship building requires consistent effort. By investing time and effort in building these internal relationships, you can gain the necessary support to successfully drive your learning initiatives forward

Contributing is crucial

As you build these relationships, remember that it's not just about what you can gain from others, but also what you can contribute. 

Sharing your own knowledge and expertise is crucial. This could be in the form of contributing to discussions, presenting at conferences, writing articles, or even mentoring less experienced professionals. 

By sharing your knowledge, you not only help others but also establish your reputation as a thought leader in the industry. This can open new opportunities, increase your influence, and ultimately enhance your career.

By actively seeking out these professional relationships and being willing to both learn from and contribute to them, you can stay at the forefront of your field and continue to grow in your role.

Tip: Before you put a plan in place to build your professional network, start by making sure your online presence is up to date. Update your LinkedIn profile by making sure you have an up-to-date picture, job title and description and ideally start posting about things you’re either passionate or knowledgeable about. The same applies if you have a professional Twitter or Threads account. 

External partners 

Partners such as vendors, consultants and training providers, can also play an important role in supporting your goals. It's essential to select and work with partners who share your vision and goals. 

To build strong relationships with external partners, be transparent about your needs and expectations, and be willing to negotiate to reach mutually beneficial agreements.

I’ve had many great relationships with providers over the years who have helped me in some very difficult situations. These are definitely relations worth investing in. 

By sharing your knowledge, you not only help others but also establish your reputation as a thought leader in the industry. This can open new opportunities, increase your influence, and ultimately enhance your career

Here are a few things to consider

Vision and goals

The first step towards building strong relationships with external partners is selecting those who align with your vision and goals. The best partnerships are formed when both parties share common objectives and values. 

Expectations

It's important to be transparent about your needs and expectations from the outset. 

Clear communication about what you hope to achieve, the resources you have available, and the timeline you're working with can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Negotiation

This isn't just about getting the best deal for your organisation – it's about reaching agreements that are mutually beneficial. 

This could involve negotiating costs, timelines, or the scope of work. Remember, the aim is to create a partnership that delivers value for both sides.

To build strong relationships with external partners, be transparent about your needs and expectations, and be willing to negotiate to reach mutually beneficial agreements

Communication

Regular check-ins can help you stay updated on progress, address issues promptly and adjust as needed. 

This ongoing communication not only helps keep the partnership on track but also builds trust and mutual respect.

Recognition

Lastly, remember to acknowledge the contributions of your partners. Recognition and appreciation go a long way in strengthening relationships and fostering long-term collaboration.

Developing strong and diverse networks is crucial for the success of any CLO. By developing and maintaining your networks, you can stay informed of industry trends, access new resources, and position yourself for long-term success. 

If you enjoyed this, read: What every new CLO needs to know in the first 90 days