The 9 Skills You Need for Relationship Riches
A thriving life is built through relationships that open doors and create possibilities.
We live in a network-driven world. Artificial intelligence, remote work, and digital communication have changed how we meet and maintain connections. Yet one truth remains clear. People build, grow, and create with others they trust.
That trust, when cared for and strengthened over time, becomes the foundation of relationship riches. These riches are not financial. They are the wealth of genuine connections that expand opportunities, deepen understanding, and create meaningful experiences.
The skills that follow will help you create and sustain those kinds of relationships in your own life.
1. Give It Time and Build Trust
Relationship building is a long-term process. At the core of every strong connection is trust, which grows naturally as people experience your consistency, reliability, and authenticity.
Trust requires patience. By showing up, delivering on promises, and providing value without expecting immediate returns, you demonstrate that your relationships are genuine. People begin to see you as dependable, which strengthens your network of relationship riches.
How to cultivate trust:
- Consistency: Honor commitments and communicate regularly
- Transparency: Be honest about intentions, goals, and limitations
- Reciprocity: Offer help and insight freely to build mutual confidence
- Respect boundaries: Understand others' time and energy limitations
Trust develops through repeated interactions and observation. Your integrity and generosity in all dealings increase the resilience and depth of your relationship riches.
Mindset for building trust:
- Treat connections as long-term investments
- Recognize that trust compounds over time
- Focus on giving more than receiving, allowing relationships to strengthen naturally
The more time and attention you invest in building trust, the more authentic, resilient, and rewarding your relationship riches become.
2. Show Up
Presence is a core component of trust. When you attend events, meetings, or online sessions, you demonstrate reliability and commitment. People value those who consistently participate and contribute.
Being present increases the likelihood of meaningful encounters. Your consistency communicates that relationships matter and that you are someone others can depend on.
How to incorporate this habit:
- Attend at least one relevant event per month, online or in person
- Be fully engaged during conversations
- Honor commitments consistently
Showing up demonstrates respect and reliability, which strengthens your ability to create lasting relationship riches.
3. Master the Art of Follow-Up
Following up is one of the most powerful tools in sustaining connections. Meeting someone once has limited impact unless you maintain the relationship over time.
A thoughtful follow-up communicates that you value the relationship. Simple messages such as:
Tips to strengthen trust through follow-up:
- Track interactions using tools like Notion, Clay, or Airtable
- Maintain notes on shared interests or opportunities
- Send regular check-ins to show reliability and ongoing engagement
Consistent follow-up demonstrates commitment and nurtures trust, which is critical to building lasting relationship riches.
4. Reconnect Through Gratitude
Gratitude strengthens the bonds of trust and reminds others that relationships are valued. A message expressing appreciation can revive dormant relationships and deepen your network.
For example:
Ways to cultivate trust through gratitude:
- Reach out to former mentors, colleagues, or collaborators
- Acknowledge past contributions and their lasting effects
- Share updates on how their guidance shaped your journey
Sincere gratitude signals authenticity and builds a foundation for relationship riches that can grow over years.
5. Create and Share Value Consistently
Sustained relationship building depends on creating value. Sharing insights, ideas, or resources without expectation of immediate return fosters trust and credibility.
Modern ways to contribute:
- Publish helpful content or guides online
- Provide meaningful feedback or advice
- Facilitate connections that benefit multiple parties
Consistent value creation signals reliability and generosity, which are essential for deepening trust and accumulating relationship riches.
6. Introduce People with Intention
Intentional introductions strengthen relationships because they provide immediate value. Instead of connecting two people randomly, think about what each person wants to achieve and how they can support one another.
Example:
Providing relevant, well-considered introductions builds your reputation for reliability. When others see that you help them create opportunities, they remember you as someone who contributes meaningfully. This trust forms the foundation of long-term relationship riches.
7. Connect the Connectors
Some of the most powerful relationships come from connecting people who themselves are natural connectors. When two people who thrive on bringing others together meet, they often collaborate in ways that create exponential value.
When you facilitate such connections, you build credibility and trust within your network. You are remembered as the person who made the introduction, which positions you to benefit indirectly from the relationships and opportunities that emerge.
How to practice this:
- Identify people with strong networks and complementary interests
- Make introductions thoughtfully, highlighting shared goals or opportunities
- Observe how connections evolve and maintain open communication to foster trust
Connecting connectors is a simple step that produces long-term effects in building relationship riches. One thoughtful introduction can unlock doors you may never have access to alone.
8. Interview and Learn from Others
Interviewing others or engaging in content collaborations creates opportunities to build trust. When you give someone the space to share their story or expertise, you demonstrate respect for their perspective and insights.
Examples:
- Host a short-form interview series on LinkedIn or YouTube
- Spotlight individuals in blogs or newsletters
- Collaborate on content that benefits multiple participants
This approach allows trust to develop naturally, as people recognize that your interactions are thoughtful and value-driven. Engaging in this way contributes directly to your relationship riches.
9. Host Experiences That Bring People Together
Connections are reinforced through shared experiences. Hosting gatherings, workshops, or small retreats allows people to interact in ways that online communication cannot replicate.
Creating experiences that foster genuine engagement demonstrates your commitment to others' growth. People remember hosts who facilitate meaningful interactions and treat them with respect.
Ideas for hosting:
- Small dinner parties with diverse but complementary backgrounds
- Roundtables on topics relevant to your field
- Online idea exchanges or collaborative workshops
Hosting consistently strengthens trust within your network and positions you as a reliable source of relationship riches.
Building Relationship Riches
In a world dominated by technology, artificial intelligence, and remote communication, human connection remains our most valuable currency. Opportunities and growth flow from the quality of relationships we cultivate.
Every thoughtful interaction contributes to trust and deepens your network. The relationships you nurture today become sources of insight, collaboration, and fulfillment tomorrow.
Begin with one meaningful connection. Invest attention and care. Over time, your relationship riches grow into a network that supports and amplifies your life and work.
The Fundamental 5: Guiding Principles for Humanity
As you build relationship riches, consider how these nine skills align with broader principles for living well. The Fundamental 5 offers guidance that deepens the impact of every connection you make:
Gather Together - Show up, host experiences, and create spaces where meaningful relationships can flourish.
Love One Another - Build trust through consistent care, follow-up, and genuine interest in others' growth and success.
Advance Humanity - Create and share value that serves others, make intentional introductions, and facilitate connections that expand possibilities.
Advocate Peace - Foster understanding and collaboration through the relationships you build, creating networks that bridge divides and strengthen communities.
Feel God's Grace - Approach relationships with gratitude, recognizing the gift of human connection and the opportunities it brings.
When you integrate these principles with the nine skills, your relationship building becomes more than networking. It becomes a practice of contributing to something larger than yourself, creating lasting value for everyone in your network.
References and Further Reading
- Adam Grant, Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success (Penguin, 2014)
- Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time (Currency, 2020 Edition)
- Harvard Business Review, "How to Network Effectively" (HBR.org, 2023)
- MIT Sloan Management Review, "The Future of Networking in a Digital-First World" (2024)
- McKinsey & Company, "The Power of Relationships in the AI-Driven Workplace" (2025)
- Stanford Graduate School of Business, "Why Connection is the New Competitive Advantage" (2023)
- Jayson Gaignard, Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins (2015). A practical guide to hosting intimate gatherings that foster deep, meaningful connections and build lasting trust.
- Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Penguin Press, 2018). Explores the importance of intentional gatherings and how they can transform relationships.
- David Burkus, Friend of a Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Career (Harvard Business Review Press, 2018). Offers insights into the unseen networks that influence our professional and personal lives.