What is the power of relationships?
After listening to this podcast, you may likely take on a new perspective on the relationships you currently have and the ones you will begin or continue to build.
Building relationships is an intentional process. It doesn’t automatically begin at the first handshake or conversation. The real essence of what that relationship becomes happens over time. There are many ways to connect with people and build relationships, but it all starts with both participants choosing to open up to the prospect of new relationships.
Laying The Foundation for Healthy Relationship Building
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Develop your self-awareness
Understanding yourself helps you to build THRIVING relationships. When you know your behaviors, you can communicate your needs, know how you respond to others, and give from a pure heart. Self-awareness is the pillar of building relationships with other people. When you know yourself first, you become more confident in opening up to others. Developing your self-awareness builds your self-esteem.
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Set clear boundaries and expectations
People learn how to treat you based on how they observe you treat yourself, first and foremost. As you present yourself to others, be sure that you refrain from negative self-talk or adverse actions that would make someone think that it’s okay to do or say certain things to you. Establish clear boundaries by holding the golden rule: ‘treat others how you want to be treated.’ All healthy relationships flourish from healthy reciprocation.
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Understand that relationships are seasonal
Take advantage of the people you have in your life in the present moment. All relationships are seasonal, and the length of those seasons vary! Be present with the people you currently have. Please make the most of your time with them; find ways to give and add substantial amounts of value to their lives.
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Clear Cut Communication
At the heart of all relationships is communication. Communication is a two-way process that is both giving and receiving. It is vital to learn how to speak appropriately and effectively communicate your thoughts during the communication process. On the same token, it is also vitally important that you understand the art of active listening. As you develop active listening skills, you will learn precisely what the other person is trying to communicate. It would help if you also learned how to ask the right questions. Knowing what questions to ask and when to ask them during the communication process will allow deeper bonds to form through in-depth conversations.
The Power Of Networking
There is power in networking. When you put yourself out there to cultivate professional relationships, you open yourself up to learning new things from others and expedite your growth, forcing you to get out of your comfort zone.
Relationship Building Techniques
Take a personality or behavioral assessment
Taking a personality or behavioral assessment will give you an unbiased view of yourself and offer you more clarity about who you are. It will provide you with input on who you may perceive yourself to be, who others perceive you to be, and who you think others perceive you to be. These assessments lay the framework to begin and grow in your personal develop
Relationship Building BLOCKERS
Lack of trust
No healthy relationship can thrive without trust. As stated, trust takes time to build, but some people may have a hard time trusting others based on past experiences. Also, breaking down trust can occur when one person may not have a good experience with the individual they are interacting with. Trust begins to break down when there is a repeated cycle of disappointment.
Being impatient
All relationships take time to build. You can’t expect anything that you aren’t nurturing to grow. Nurturing relationships takes time, effort, and energy. What you put in is what you get out. So if you want to build meaningful and lasting relationships, you have to be willing to give time. When you make time for others, you show that you value and appreciate what they have to offer.
Poor Communication
People can’t read your mind. Suppose we can’t properly communicate our thoughts, feelings, and emotions: in that case, it subjects the relationship to be at risk of a communication breakdown, which becomes a barrier in the relationship and can lead to a disconnect.
In conclusion, don’t think that you have to build relationships on your own. Reach out to people, build relationships through the people you already have in your life. As you go out into the world or do virtual meet-ups, remember that all people are different and unique. Allow people to be themselves; allow yourself to accept others as they are. Relationship building doesn’t have to be complicated or scary; start by putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to new relationships. You’d be surprised by the people you meet in your life.