HOW DO YOU BUILD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS? 11-STEP PROGRAM

Here are some tips for building good relationships. Some of these ideas we learn in first grade but sometimes we forget as adults.
1. Build good relationships one on one. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. Sending a newsletter helps you stay in touch with a lot of people, but it’s no substitute for meeting a real person.
2. Be kind and connect. It may seem obvious, but a kind word or smile can brighten someone’s day. Try to find something in common: We all want to be close to our loved ones.
3. Ask people. People like to talk about themselves and what they think. If you ask people about them and listen carefully, they can become your fast friend.
4. Tell people about yourself. People will not trust you if you are not willing to trust them. Tell them what really matters to you and what you think.
5. Go places and do things. When asked why he robbed banks, the robber replied: “Because there is money there.“ If you want to make friends, you have to go where the people are: picnics, conventions, events, fundraisers, parties, playgrounds, bowling alleys, little league games, bakeries, etc.
6. Accept people as they are. You don’t have to agree with them all the time to have a good relationship with them. No one likes to be judged.
7. Let’s assume that other people also want to have good relationships. Beneath the crazy exterior is often a lonely soul hoping someone will break his shell.
8. Overcome your fear of rejection. Most of us suffer from the fear of rejection and there is only one thing for it: get over it. If you want to build good relationships, plan to reject yourself sometimes. At the end of the day, you will be richly rewarded for your new good relationships.
9. Be persistent. People are often fearful and suspicious. It takes some time to build trust. You can almost always have a good relationship if you stick with it.
10. Invite people. People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.There is a desire among individuals to connect with others who share similar interests.
 At worst, people are flattered that you invited them.
11. Enjoy people. If you really enjoy people, your attitude will attract others. Those around you are more likely to want to be around.

HOW DO YOU BUILD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES?

Here are some common sense tips.
• Learn about the person’s culture. Every effort will help show that you care enough to learn about the reality of the other person’s life.
• Put yourself at the center of the other person’s culture. Especially if you get to know someone who is not part of the majority culture, try to attend their cultural events where you are the minority. If you’re willing to take risks and put yourself in a position where you might be uncomfortable, people will want to get to know you better.
• Withstand human pressure. Actions speak louder than words. Those who are oppressed require support to speak out against injustice.
 Strong good relationships are created when people act courageously for each other.
• Mistakes are allowed. You may have to make mistakes to build good relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds, but people are usually forgiving, especially if your intentions are good. Remember to stand up for yourself, even if you feel rejected.

HOW DO YOU BUILD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN POLITICAL POWER?

Here are some tips for building good relationships with elected officials, business leaders and leaders of large organizations.
• Don’t be afraid . People who hold the title or position of political power are also people. They want a good relationship just like everyone else.
• Listen and don’t judge. People with titles rarely have a chance to be heard. They rarely have a chance to think about an issue without someone pressuring them to vote one way or another. Spend time with such an individual and develop their friendship.
 See what you can offer them not only in a political context, but also as a likable person.

HOW DO YOU KEEP GOOD RELATIONSHIPS?

Okay, now you’ve built good relationships. Good relationships, like any other living thing, need care to keep them alive and healthy. What do you do for them to keep them alive?
• Pay attention to people. Communicate with people when necessary. It may only take a few minutes a week, but those few minutes can help your friend or colleague remember the importance of working together.
• Communicate openly. People need to communicate. It’s okay to set aside time to just talk about how things are going. When people don’t have the opportunity to talk about important issues, misunderstandings can arise and tensions often arise. Communication is a discipline that must be practiced regularly; it’s like taking vitamins or doing push-ups.
• Respect each other. To maintain good relationships, everyone must be valued. If you notice that someone did a great job gathering information for the committee, say so. If you like working with someone, let them know. We are all human and appreciation helps us grow.
• Expand yourself. Go a little far, at least sometimes. If your coworker needs to spend more time with her daughter, you can ask her to go home early and finish a scholarship proposal.
• Volunteer at their organization (if she’s not already at yours). If you help them, they will probably think well of you and give something back.
• Instruct one another to perform better.
 We all need a friend to help us stretch beyond what we think we can. We can also build stronger good relationships by challenging our work partners more.
• Support each other when things get tough. Loyalty is essential to maintaining good relationships. We may not agree with a coworker or friend, but we can support them when they’re stuck.