Whether your business operates in a local neighborhood with two employees, or internationally with thousands, a lot depends on the quality of the professional relationships you forge. No one in business functions in isolation. Regardless of the medium used to communicate--from tom toms to e-mail to live video conferencing--there are no abstract professional relationships. Ultimately, all professional relationships are, at some level, personal--built between individuals who represent their team, department, section, company, or other work entity. In this highly interactive context, honing your professional relationship skills is increasingly important because your work relationships help determine how effectively the business operates. An effective professional relationship means a productive one. It accomplishes your tasks and your company's goals. In today's small world, the diversity of personal and cultural styles and backgrounds makes engagement more challenging than ever. There are many different customs and approaches, and the more you know about them and how to adapt your own style, the more effective a representative you'll be. This series focuses on communication processes and behavior that can help build better work relationships at and between all levels of an organization.