I. Ten Benefits to Maintaining Good Relationships
Strong positive relationships are essential to achieving our success - whether they are work relationships, family relationships or relationships with others in our communities. We're in almost constant contact with others and we should make every contact an opportunity to strengthen our social skills and reinforce our relationships.
With that in mind, here are ten benefits for maintaining good long-term relationships:
1. Trust: Long-term relationships are based on trust. When we trust others, we are more relaxed, comfortable and willing to be ourselves without any pretenses or trying to maintain a facade of someone we're not.
2. Acceptance: Once we experience trust with others, we can be honest about our weaknesses and shortcomings because we're confident that we will be accepted for who we are, without judgment or criticism.
3. Support: Our lives go through many changes, some planned and some take us by surprise. In either case, they often take us out of our comfort zone and challenge us to grow and become more than we were before. Good, healthy relationships give us the support and encouragement we need to rise to new and different challenges.
4. A Kind Ear: Having someone who will listen non-judgmentally when you're feeling down or frustrated and want to "vent" gives you the freedom to express yourself. Sometimes you just need to get something off your chest without feeling like you have to watch every word you say.
5. Understanding: When someone knows you well enough to understand where you're "coming from" and instantly know the context in which you're speaking, it's easier to open up. Individuals in long-term relationships have a history of shared experiences that build a mutual understanding so they "get you" without a lot of explanation.
6. Someone to Call On When You Need a Hand: Everyone, from time to time, needs a hand from a friend, colleague, peer, or family member. This can be in the form of advice, a new job, or assistance with a particular project in which you need to call on another's expertise.
7. Referrals and References: You can count on the people with whom you have a good relationship to give you a positive reference or referral - they're more likely to be a good advocate for you and expound on your strengths and strong points.
8. Share and Celebrate: Celebrating with people who truly care about you and want celebrate with you when your life is going well, when you secured a promotion, or when bought your first house is a ton fun. Being acknowledged for your accomplishments is a rewarding experience and when you have good relationships, most want to be part of celebrating your success.
9. Reduced Stress: Sharing your life with friends and coworkers who you trust, who accept, understand and support you reduces stress because you have camaraderie and, therefore, less potential for interpersonal conflicts. Good relationships bring about the best in work teams and families by reducing the anxieties that cause stress and, at the same time, good relationships cultivate a sense of well-being and emotional security.
10. Happiness and Satisfaction: Having good relationships mean that there's a mutual like for one another. Being around people you like and who like you create situations that are harmonious, supportive, and well, happy. You have an overall feeling of satisfaction in your life - be it at work, at home, or in your community.
Now, here are ten benefits others will receive from having a good relationship with you:
1. Trust
2. Acceptance
3. Support
4. A Kind Ear
5. Understanding
6. Someone to Call On When You Need a Hand
7. Referrals and References
8. Share and Celebrate
9. Reduce Stress
10. Happiness and Satisfaction
Did you notice that the list was exactly the same?
The strongest and best relationships are made when all parties give and receive. If you want these ten benefits for yourself, you have to give them to others.
Too often we look at relationships with a "what-do-I-get-out-of-this?" perspective. That's not how good relationships work. It's about give and take.
Think about what you want out of a relationship, then give it. You'll be surprised at how much better your relationships become!
II.10 Ways To Make Your Interviewer Love You!
It can be tough to be an interviewer. Clients on your back to be thorough, yet fast in creating employees they want. So they will need your help - and that can, in turn, help you too!
And then to make a pretty important judgement of the capability of the individual. It’s a tough life on the end of an assessment sheet!
So, the big opportunity for you is to get in their and make their life so much easier. By doing this, not only will you stand a far better chance of being successful, because you get to tell your story, but you will also get them onside for you when it matters.
And, did I mention that you will go into the meeting, clear on your tactics, in much more control than you might have before. Which gives you confidence - all the more important then!
So what can you do.
Here are Ten Ways to successfully have someone interview you!
1. You listen well and pay full attention
By paying full attention you show your interviewer that they matter; they are important and above all, you care and respect them!
2. You just as interested in them
Tricky in an interview as they want to know about you, but it needs to be what they see! Self-preservation and looking after yourself are the most important and primitive of behaviors - but in building great relationships, it’s vital to show the other person is the one that matters most in the moment!
3. You keep promises and do what you say you will
By answering fully, giving information they need, you are delivering what you say you will, which is a big asset for you, as long as you are completely consistent and true.
4. You are supportive of them in the conversation
By working with them to give them the information they need it will be to your advantage. This is not the time to get awkward and be difficult. Be on their side, help them to help you!
5. You share resources
Sometimes, during an interview you will sense that you know more about something than they do - and often its resources that you have and they don’t. By offering to supply these to them after the event, you will create a two-way process and that emotionally binds them to your side.
6. You aren’t judgemental, but very objective
This is a big talent, if you can do it. IT’s so easy to judge and make assumptions when you are under pressure (some people do this all the time), yet if you can suspending that sort of behavior is of value. It leads them to realize that you are generous and understanding as well as capable of making decision based on real fact and not on hearsay.
7. You talk less than you listen (see a pattern here!)
In an interview, this is pretty difficult and, of course should be. Its going to be your job to do most of the talking. Yet, there will be moments where you can listen and showing that you are doing make the interviewer-interviewee relationship much stronger. Also bear in mind that you can show this off to it’s full potential before and after the formal process.
8. You make time for them
A little like the point above - and more. Sometimes in a conversation, formal or otherwise, you can sense when someone wants to talk a little about something. Being generous enough to make that space for them, despite your own challenges on the day, is a really strong and memorable relationship builder. By asking the open questions to find out more to encourage their thinking, works well.
9. You say ’yes’ when you can and ’no’ when you can’t - and are honest about it
It can be easy to make the wrong call here. Interviewers recognise integrity - and a lack of it. By agreeing or disagreeing to something, when your body language, voice and general demeanour say otherwise, is a clear indication that you are not being completely honest.
10. You are encouraging, enthusiastic, supportive and challenging
During an interview you will have the opportunity to use all these - and by doing so you will be able to show yourself off for who you truly are. The real you needs to be able to demonstrate them, in your control, in your 15 minutes of fame here.
Great relationships are hard to come by - yet in us all is the potential to create unlimited numbers of wonderful allies - including those who take the time and energy to interview us.
