Here's how you can foster strong connections with diverse clients and customers as a mid-career professional.

1. Take the time to understand the cultural backgrounds of your clients. 2. Be aware of different communication styles, body language, and etiquette. 3. Pur yourself in clients’ shoes. Show empathy for their struggles and offer support where possible. 4. Keep up with industry trends, technology, and best practices. 5. Leverage Technology: CRM tools can help you keep track of client interactions and preferences, allowing you to offer more personalized service. 6. Focus on building long-term relationships rather than just closing deals. 7. Seek out mentors from diverse backgrounds and collaborate with colleagues who have different experiences. 8. Regularly check in with clients, even when there’s no immediate business need.

I managed an EU and APAC inside sales teams. While Europe is very familiar to me due to being born and raised here, APAC was an unfamiliar territory. To help me being a better manager I read number of books & watched documentaries about history, cultures and its differences, habits, do/dont’s. I also travelled to a few Asian destinations making me fall in love here and there ☺️ (🇯🇵🇹🇼🇨🇳🇮🇩🇸🇬). It all resulted in far better understanding, not only about my direct team but also wider company community and our customers. I continue this discovery every day.

Be an active listener and try to understand the clients' pain points. Provide constructive feedback whenever and whatever it is possible.

We practice listen to understand and not listen to reply. It's crucial to understand the mindset of our clients before we design or engineer the perception that fits to their values or belief system.

As a mid-career professional, I’ve learned that building strong networks hinges on being genuine. Authenticity is what makes you relatable and allows others to connect with you on a deeper level. In the workplace, it’s vital to maintain that authenticity because when you try to be someone you’re not, people can sense it—your energy feels off. For instance, I have a natural New York accent. While I’ve sometimes tried to neutralize it to sound more "professional," it often comes across as robotic. Embracing my true self—accent and all—makes me more relatable, even if it draws attention. My advice: always be your authentic self. It’s the foundation of trust and key to expanding your network.

O feedback é o caminho mais assertivo para o alinhamento das expectativas de ambas as partes. Investir na apresentação de números e resultados ajuda no desenvolvimento de ajuda mútua entre todos. É importante também gerar aproximação de forma ética e transparente para que gere confiança.