What are some effective ways to build a professional relationship with someone less experienced than you?

Finding common ground is not just about breaking the ice; it's the foundation of meaningful professional relationships. I've found that shared experiences or interests create a bridge for effective communication.

I’m my experience, being able to actively listen to genuinely learn about a person works every time in building a relationship personal or professional. Treat people like they want to be treated and be authentic in how you show up for them. People know when you are fake.

Don't ask searching questions or second-guess them. Make them feel that they are cut out for the role. Focus on building their confidence by exposing them to various work situations and give them responsibilities that convey trust. Be intentional in guiding their growth while making them understand that you too can relate to their situation. Ground them in the skill of collaborative listening so that they can feel comfortable to grow in their role and how they contribute to team work. Importantly, help them feel safe and be free of fear that you can 'throw them under the bus'. Bottom-line, be professional and help them too to grow their own professional identities avoiding smoke screening and a cut-throat mentality!

Research who you want to know. Have some insight so you can talk fluently in their world. Identify some intersection points between you and them. This can help develop trust more quickly

Moreover, consider adopting a mentorship approach. Building a professional relationship with someone less experienced provides an opportunity for mentorship. Share your insights, offer guidance, and create an environment that encourages their growth. This not only contributes to their development but also strengthens the overall team dynamic, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.

Share Your Experiences: Share your own experiences and lessons learned. This can help them gain insights into the industry and navigate challenges more effectively. Relate your experiences to theirs, showing that you understand their perspective.

One thing I have found helpful in building professional relationships is getting to know the person by building trust around their interests and needs and listening. Finding common ground in this way also helps build the relationship and a stronger connection. Then I can share insight or my own experiences as it makes sense. Where I think I have added the most value is introducing them to my network and continuing to find ways to support them.

To build a successful professional relationship with someone less experienced, I must determine its purpose. If they are my subordinates, the relationship is crucial for guiding and mentoring them. Otherwise, I must evaluate their needs and goals to provide the necessary support for their professional growth.

Once I tried to connect with a colleague who was new to the team. I shared my own experience of starting in a similar role and asked them about their first impressions and challenges. This helped us find common ground and establish a rapport.

Be a mentor and help them steer through their learning challenges. Seek out teaching moments while acknowledging their progress. Avoid being 'all-knowing' and show some vulnerability and that it's okay to do so. Help them to thrive for excellence and know that it is critical to be dependable. Be firm but fair!

I think we all like to help. Whether it's through feedback or suggestions I also think it's better received when it's solicited or at least a relationship of trust established so I'm not just being a know it all. But rather, getting to know the person and where they may be struggling.

Feedback and support are the cornerstones of mentorship. I've seen the transformative power of constructive feedback in boosting confidence and driving professional growth.

Supporting someone, giving hand holding support is the most important thing, after that we can guide them, give suggestions, feedbacks and ask for their Queries and questions. Making them feel comfortable for the same

Providing feedback can be hard for both the provider and receiver. Someone more experienced, in my mind, has the responsibility to provide it in a way that the receiver can learn and grow. That's why I like the technique SBI developed by the Centre for Creative Leadership combined with the work of Marcus Buckingham. S=situation. B=behaviour. I=impact. For example, "at yesterday's meeting (S), I noticed that client's demeanour changed (I) from defensive to collaborative after you asked a series of questions (B) to understand their problem better. Those were really good questions. How did you come up with them?" This kind of feedback allows the less experienced colleague to recognize their 'secret sauce' and to build on that skill!

Yes! Feedback and support are key to nurture a meaningful connection. It demonstrates that you’re engaged in their development and builds trust. Ensuring there’s a healthy amount of praise and positive feedback regarding their strengths and what they did well is pivotal to build confidence and help nurture a path & future direction that is aligned with their zone of genius ✨ Also, a mentor that can provide the kind of support that sees beyond the current task/project/role to the bigger picture (i.e. the person’s best interests, future potential, unfolding career) is one that will build a sustainable, trusted professional relationship and create long lasting ripple effects for the mentee

When building relationships, build bridges! Here's how to cultivate stellar relationships with colleagues, regardless of their experience level: 1. Embrace the "Reverse Mentorship": Ask questions, seek their fresh perspectives, and tap into their digital dexterity. 2. Guide them, don't dictate: Offer support and guidance, but don't micromanage. 3. Help them see the bigger picture: Bridge the gap between their current role and their aspirations. 4. Exchange Ideas: Don't hoard your knowledge. Create a space for open dialogue and cross-pollination of ideas. 5. Remember, it's a two-way street: Learn from them too especially their tech-savviness, their social media prowess, and understanding of the latest trends.

No matter how experienced we are, we can always learn. However, it requires humility to learn from someone less experienced. Humility, in my mind, is a super power because it opens so many doors. Learning from a less experienced colleague is one example and it will garner the respect of the less experienced colleague and also boost confidence in their own abilities. For example, an experienced person might ask for input in an area that the less experienced person has more knowledge. This can often be relegated to matters of technology. I think the more advanced use of this technique is to ask for input about matters that the experienced person knows well. This can stimulate creativity and innovation.

I believe this is the opportunity to think about reverse mentorship. A wisdom exchange for an updated view or digital insight.

Reverse mentoring is a powerful process when implemented correctly. It empowers the more junior member, offers new perspectives to the more senior and can create an environment of deeper trust between team members. This needs to be actioned in a genuine and sincere manner to get the full benefits. Both parties should want to share and absorb knowledge.

Communication: Foster open and transparent communication. Encourage them to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns without fear of judgment.

Working in the same area means sharing a lot of similar experiences. Learning from a menthor who had the opportunity to collect them more is priceless. Sharing not only your successes but also failures and challenges makes your mentee learn quicker and gain trust in you. It shows your human side and leads your mentee to admit their mistakes in future which then leads to more effective growth.

Keep it human and be open to sharing shortfalls as much as celebrating wins with your team. You can open up a more transparent team ethos in this way, and make your team members - especially those who are younger or with less experience, feel more seen and accepted.

I believe the sharing of successes and failures through story examples is a powerful way to convey learnings. Nothing replaces experiences. The act of doing is the fastest path to learning.

This is a BIG one! Many of the young professionals I know have found the most value in being introduced to my network and helping them make deeper connections on their own as they are comfortable. I encourage them to connect with others right away and not wait until they need something from them before reaching out.

This is an excellent way to establish a professional relationship. The attitude that my network is your network solidifies the relationship. One day, as your less experienced colleague gains experience and grows their network, the benefits will be unimaginable.

I am a connector and fully believe in the karma of doing the right thing will come back tenfold in ways you least suspect. Everyone is one degree removed from a meaningful connection. Pay if forward.

Keeping in touch with someone less experienced in the workplace is so important, particularly in remote situations. I get so many complaints from new professionals, particularly since the pandemic, about a lack of mentorship. When an experienced professional can schedule regular meetings to discuss work matters and also check in on an impromptu basis, the less experienced person will feel supported, mentored and invested in.

I believe knowing your narrative worth is critically important. We understand net worth (a simple equation of assets - liabilities), we have a similar notion of what self worth is, albeit we can be blind to why it is what it is, but we rarely take the time to know how we are perceived by others. Do you know what your prevailing narrative is and how that is received by peers, bosses, friends, acquaintances and strangers. Google yourself to start the process. Pay attention to what appears. Who are you by social media? Are you a different person by social platform or the same person?

Make them understand that their experience is an important phase of career growth. Help them to develop an insatiable appetite to learn everyday, setting clear goals. Help them look past the 'it's just work' mentality.