As the proud marketing director of TSNN and the celebrated TSNN Awards, I know real connections are the lifeline of our industry. But how acquainted are we, really? 

Healthy relationships — business or otherwise — are essential to success. They require genuine, respectful connections and a few foundational characteristics. We all know this, yet when was the last time you got down to the nitty-gritty of truly investing in the people around you?

I don’t mean simply online or being distracted by your device while “talking” to someone face to face; I mean slowing down enough to engage in the lost art of simply listening, out of respect for the relationship.

Here are five things to work on as you’re cultivating relationships in our industry and beyond.

Communication

Consider picking up the phone to connect; it’s more personal and can differentiate you from someone else in a positive way. A live conversation adds depth to a discussion, making you tune in more, helping you to picture where people live and allowing you to hear their accents. Opportunities abound if you take the time to be attentive.  

Trust

This forms the basis of all relationships and interactions. Trust is as important in professional relationships as it is in personal ones. A company that’s able to create a strong sense of trust can retain a higher percentage of customers and is better able to weather the storms. Remember, trust is built through actions, not just words.

Partners

Everyone you work with (or might work with in the future) is a potential partner. People want to be involved with a good company beyond the traditional notion now more than ever. These types of relationships can save you money and generate new partners, clients and even employees. Keep your mind open to creative new possibilities, as there may be adjacent opportunities ahead.

Appreciation

Make people feel valued. Thank your co-workers; you are only as good as your team. Express gratitude to your customers; they are the reason you have a job. Contemplate writing a hand written thank you note (it might take a little longer, but there’s something very special and personal about that), which comes with a guaranteed high opening rate.

Selflessness

Give back! The world needs more of it and it makes everyone feel good (For inspiration, check out our Giving Back section here.).

Finally, we invite you to get to know us better. We would like to engage with you, learn what makes you tick and hear about your goals this year. If we haven’t crossed paths yet — reach out. If we “know” each other already, we invite you to deepen our relationship.

Meet the TSNN Team

Before Senior Editor Lisa Plummer Savas began her professional career as a writer and editor, she was a classically trained dancer performing in small groups and local companies in her home town of Los Angeles. Although she put away her ballet slippers, leotards and jazz shoes many years ago, Lisa recently became an obsessed ballroom dance junkie who now enjoys spending countless hours at her local ballroom studio learning how to waltz, tango, foxtrot, cha-cha, rhumba, mambo and swing — backward, and in heels! 

Email Lisa at lpsavas@tsnn.com with story ideas around general news, green/sustainability, CSR/giveback, new business contracts, tech news and blogs.

Managing Editor Kelsey Ogletree's secret talent? She's a baking whiz, whipping up batches of cookies, quick breads and cakes on the regular, much to her husband's (and his coworkers') delight. One of her favorite recipes of the moment is salted chocolate chunk shortbread cookies from Bon Appetit, a perfect afternoon snack with a cup of tea. She got her love of baking from her grandmother and mom, who taught her to celebrate every holiday with a sweet treat baked with love. 

Email Kelsey at kogletree@tsnn.com with fresh story ideas around general news, health/wellness, venues and people.

On her off time, Marketing Director Arlene Shows enjoys hiking, yoga, being in nature, traveling and hopping on her paddleboard when weather allows along the many waterways around New Hampshire. She also likes being silly with her nieces and shopping for fun shoes. Arlene is a strong supporter of the military and all who serve, and is passionate about full inclusion for people with differing abilities.

Email Arlene at ashows@tarsusus.com (or call at 603-630-0125) to talk business, TSNN partnerships, sales and marketing goals, social media objectives, trade show talent and anything event related.

In between helping his hometown of Newton, Mass. on a regular basis, Vice President of Sales John Rice is a die-hard New England sports fan and is often seen wearing a Red Sox or Patriots jersey around Boston. He has logged more trade show hours than most and has attended multiple games at various venues around the country (most recently, Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta!).

Reach out to John at jrice@tsnn.com (or 617-201-7088) to learn how TSNN can help you gain more leads, or to talk trade show history.

What’s new with Rachel Wimberly? If you haven’t heard, Tarsus Group has promoted our Tarsus Media president to executive vice president of business development for Tarsus US. As part of her role, she oversees mergers and acquisitions in the Tarsus U.S. trade show division. Read more here.

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