In business, especially staffing, relationships are everything. People don’t just buy based on price, they buy based on trust. They stay because they feel valued. According to research from Gallup and Harvard Business Review, customers are far more loyal to companies when there’s a strong personal connection, even if they could save a few bucks elsewhere. Ken Blanchard nailed it in Raving Fans, you don’t just want satisfied customers, you want raving fans. And fans are made when people feel heard, respected, appreciated. That doesn’t come from a discount, it comes from a relationship.
The same is true on the inside. Employees don’t stick around just for a paycheck. They stay when the culture is strong and the people around them make them feel like they matter. When folks have good relationships with their managers and coworkers, loyalty skyrockets. Friendships at work are glue, it’s hard to leave when you feel like you’re part of something meaningful. That’s why the best leaders invest in people, not just processes. And relationships develop quicker when people are in the office.
🔑 A couple of tips:
- Step out from behind the keyboard. Emails are fine but voices and faces build trust. Speak live and follow up with an email, especially on sensitive subjects.
- Call or meet in person if possible. Ask about more than the task at hand. Get to know what makes your employee, coworker, or customer tick.
- Find out their personal interests. Hobbies, families, passions - that’s where real connection starts.
Example: A staffing company that checks in weekly, not just to “see how things are going,” but to genuinely ask how the client’s team is doing, or how an employee’s first week went, builds real trust. Celebrate birthdays, remember key milestones, and make every person feel like more than a name in a system.
Here’s the real power: strong relationships make your business unbreakable. Clients become partners. Employees become believers. You create a community, not just a company. Staffers are in the people business after all. And in a world where options are endless, that’s what will set you apart.
