Partners and relationships have never been more important. What advice do brokers have for building and maintaining relationships with partners, vendors and peers, and what are some potential pitfalls? 

Less collecting, more cultivating

George Bernard Shaw said that the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. I would expand this to include relationship-building. Fishing for prospects with tone-deaf, cut-and-paste sales messages doesn't create any real connection. Neither does collecting stacks of business cards, repeating the same tired 30-second elevator pitch, or putting someone on your email list.

Related: No one's selling anything with these sales pitches

Instead, find the people you are most aligned with. That alignment could be based on shared values, shared goals, similar products or services, or similar client profiles. Commit to understanding their businesses and learning what they need to become more successful. Nurture those relationships by staying in regular contact and being genuinely engaged and willing to help. A handful of relationships that are built on a go-giver approach will create win-win opportunities and be personally fulfilling.