5 Ways to Grow Your Relationships
Recently, I have been meeting with business executives, high school principals, and passionate educators. I have been interviewing them for ways we can help our youth, and their instructors better improve in school and life settings. In these interviews I have found that it keeps coming back to one MAIN thing. RELATIONSHIPS. We will not be successful in whatever it is we do if we are not focused on growing and cultivating the relationships we have currently and the relationships we are looking for. Here are 5 ways we can improve them.
Establish a Commitment Level: What is your current level of commitment for this person? Commitment is one of the most important characteristics in a relationship and that is why it is listed first. Relationships like my marriage with my awesome wife or my brother, or my best friend in Texas will all go through some type of struggle, pitfall, or setback. How committed are you to addressing the setback and working to improve it? If you are not very committed, understand that this will most likely not be a lasting relationship. If you want to be committed, focus on addressing the needs and ask for feedback as to how you can improve.
Communicate: Asking questions requires a two way street. It can also provide a point in which we find out that we share differences in opinion. This is the true measure of a relationship and also where you find out yours/their true character. All it takes is a setback/adversity/differences to find out that you aren’t as alike as you thought. Communicating with one another can help grow the relationship regardless of your differences.
Friendship: If you cannot make new relationships, it will be difficult to move forward or work as a unit. New relationships and old ones need to be a focus. Let your old friends that you haven’t talked to in a while know that you are thinking of them. I struggle with this as I tend to neglect my wife instead of making the attempts to let her know that she is my best friend and with me to the end. Want this to improve? Try putting their needs first? Friends first!
Your Memories: I remember all my teammates that went through those brutal preseasons. I also remember most of those nights I shared with those very same guys. It is those times that allow me to instantly reconnect with them. As a father, I want to provide as many positive memories with my two sons. I want them to be able to take the camping trips, mountain climbs, basketball games, and times to daddy’s work to be the memories that link us together. I also want them to see how I treat their mama. I want them to understand that it will be those memories that guide them as they go through adulthood. Think of a few past memories and shoot a quick text or email to those that participated in the memory. It can go a long way for the both of you!
GROW Together: Growth with a relationship is much like growth within the muscles. It will require a breakdown, challenge, or setback in order to repair and make stronger. If you aren’t experiencing a challenge together, try something new together. Take them outside the comfort of the office, home, gym, to go somewhere new and experience something you both haven’t done. Seeing them in a new light can allow you to become stronger. Try things. Do things. And, do them together!
Hope this helps serve you in some way. I urge you to connect with someone and try just one of these things. Let’s get together and build relationships!