Six Ways To Build Great Relationships

In his Classic Book How To Win Friends And Influence People, Dale Carnegie speaks about the different ways one can build genuine and honest relationships. Here’s a quick summary of the six ways he suggests we can get people to like us. While what Dale Carnegie writes may feel simplistic, there is no doubt that his wisdom is timeless.

Become genuinely interested in other people. 

Dale Carnegie puts it beautifully- “You can make more friends in two months by being interested in them, than in two years by making them interested in you.” We develop high-quality and lasting relationships only by being genuinely interested in other people.

Smile

A smile is contagious because it can activate the mirror neurons in the other person. When we smile, it makes the other person feel wonderful. Showing up with a smile is a simple and easy way to connect with others.

Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language. 

“The average person is more interested in their own name than in all the other names in the world put together,” Dale Carnegie says. People love their names so much that they often donate large amounts of money just to have a building named after themselves. Therefore, we can make people feel highly valued and important by addressing them by their name.

Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.

If you pause to reflect on who your best friend is, you will realize it is the person who is happy to listen to what you have to say !! The best way to connect with someone is by getting them to speak about themselves. Most people like to talk about themselves. So indulge them by being there to listen. 

Talk in terms of the other person’s interest. 

The best way to create a real connection with others is by talking about the things that they value- Kids, family, work, or anything else you know the other person treasures. When you talk to people about what they are interested in, they will feel valued and value you in return.

Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely

Treat people the way you would like to be treated. You like it if someone appreciates you or treats you with respect. It is the same with the others. Everyone wants to be valued or respected. So if we can make people feel important in a sincere and appreciative way, we will win all friends and build genuine relationships.