If you’re wondering how to develop better friendships, there are several steps you can take to improve your relationships.
These steps include finding common interests, communicating your likes and dislikes, and being a good listener.
If you can practice these steps, you’ll find yourself in a much better position to build a lasting relationship.
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Carefully Select Your Circle Of Friends
No one expects you to have a plethora of close friends. Pick friends who will encourage you rather than depress you. Pick pals who uplift and accept you rather than those who would rather see you fail.
While you have no control over whose family you are born into, you do have some say in who you pick to be your friends. Work on your Communication skills, By learning to listen more than you speak, thinking before you respond and being there for your friends.
Listen
Don’t miss a word the other person says; pay attentive attention. Give the impression that you’re paying attention to what they’re saying. Inquire further for further clarity. Give a brief overview of the information you’ve just been given.
Though words might be useful, they aren’t required in every situation. Communicating your attention and interest through body language and eye contact is equally crucial.
Think before you respond
Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment. Thinking before speaking can prevent upset feelings and damaged dignity. When your friends know they can be themselves around you, they trust you. Use caution when deciding what to say.
Don’t Always Give Advice
Don’t always try to solve your friend’s problems or offer advise. If a friend asks for your opinion, you should offer it. They may ask you to review a crucial email for typos before it is delivered. Perhaps they’re having trouble in a significant other.
Maybe they’re going through a rough patch and could use some advice or encouragement. Don’t try to worm your way into your friend’s life and tell them how to run the show. Allow them time to think things over and come to their own conclusions.
Be Fair
In a game, everyone must play under the same rules. Don’t compete with your pals. Eventually, nobody will want to hang out with you.
Authenticity will Get You Good Friendships
Just be yourself. Just act naturally. In all candor, Just be yourself and stop pretending. Each of us puts our relationships to the test by disclosing an unflattering fact about ourselves to others around us.
We duck around a corner and peak our heads out to see if anyone responds. It’s difficult to form a connection with someone who doesn’t accept you for who you are. Don’t sell yourself cheap by abandoning your core principles and worldview just to fit in. There is no one you will be helping by acting this way.
Maintain frank and open dialogue. It may take time – and trust – to develop conversation with a person. Inquire as to how you may be of assistance to your pals.
Don’t keep your gifts to yourself. Feel free to express your wants and needs to others around you. Disclose pertinent information without taking over the discussion. Don’t just sit there and let issues fester; instead, tackle them head-on.
Find Common Interests
It can be difficult to find a friend or make friends, but there are some things you can do to make the process easier. First, find common interests in other people. Once you’ve established a common interest, you can talk about it with them. You may even find that they have the same interests as you.
You can also start by joining groups that are naturally created. For example, joining tennis clinics or book clubs in your town can help you find people who share your interests. Another way is to join local hiking groups. These groups will be a great way to build strong bonds with new friends.
Another way to find people is to join clubs, groups, and classes. You can join broad groups that cater to many interests, or you can join a more specific group that caters to a specific interest. There are also plenty of online resources that will help you find groups in your area.
Be Honest With Your Friend
One way to develop better friendships is by being honest with your friend. Dishonesty can result in distance and tension in a friendship. Instead, focus on what you can improve about your friend. If you don’t tell the truth, they will easily spill secrets to others.
Being honest does not mean being right. Being truthful simply means sharing your true response with your friend. It also means exploring with them.
Avoid assuming intellectual high ground or a sense of superiority. Many people claim to be honest, but they aren’t always very good examples. In fact, some of the most honest people are a-holes.
Honesty creates trust, which is essential in a friendship. Honesty also means your friend can trust you without fear of judgment. This makes it easier for your friendship to flourish.
Remember, nobody likes dishonest people. Just be honest with your friend and you’ll develop a stronger relationship. Keep in mind that being truthful can be uncomfortable, but it’s worth it.
Honesty also attracts people who share the same values as you. By being honest with your friend, you send a message to others that you’re open and honest with them. It signals that you’re not afraid to express your feelings. Honesty also gives people a chance to be open with each other.
Be A Good Listener
If you want to build better friendships, you should be a good listener. If you listen to other people, you can avoid judging them or making them feel insignificant. It helps to create a safe space that allows people to share their thoughts and feelings. Many people find it difficult to find friends who can understand and accept their differences.
Being a good listener shows the speaker that you are trustworthy and reliable. It also shows that you are there for the conversation. A good listener doesn’t let their minds wander and is fully present during the conversation. They aren’t distracted by their own thoughts and feelings, and they are focused on what the speaker has to say.
Sometimes, a person simply isn’t in the mood to talk. Perhaps they are preoccupied with a personal issue or are in an inappropriate setting. If this happens, you can suggest that the conversation can be picked up later. This will make it clear that you’re not abandoning your friend, and you’ll try again at a later time.
A good listener is one who doesn’t interrupt the speaker and waits for them to finish speaking. They also follow up once the speaker has made their point. A good listener doesn’t be afraid to ask questions if they’re confused about something or want to clarify something.
Be on Time
One of the most important things you can do to develop a good friendship is to be reliable. This means being on time for engagements and always following up on commitments. It will take time to build a friendship, so you need to be patient.
Keep up with new friends and make an effort to visit them on a regular basis. This will help you develop a good relationship and overcome the awkwardness that can sometimes occur.
Avoid Obsessive Comparisons
If you want to improve your relationships with people, it is important to avoid obsessive comparisons. People who constantly compare themselves to others aren’t the best friends to have. A good friend won’t compare themselves to other people and will not resort to peer pressure to influence another person’s decisions.
