Taking Time To Learn About Others is Key in Building Relationships

In business and in your personal life, having relationships and friends can provide support and encouragement. It's important to have those who will be in your corner, lend a shoulder to cry on when needed and be a good sounding board when you need one. Relationships can be beneficial and can be built by taking the time to learn about the other person.

As a way to build a relationship with someone, it's important to take time to learn about the person sitting across from you instead of giving them your verbal autobiography. Taking time to understand the other person's interests, needs, and values shows you care and provides reason for the relationship to develop. Showing an interest in what's important to the person you are building a relationship with will set you apart from so many other people.

Developing relationships and taking time to learn about others does take practice but can be done. You can practice by talking to your neighbors at home. the people you work with, the people you interact with at your favorite restaurants or coffee shops, etc. When you interact with these people, take time to show interest in their day, what they are currently up to and you might be surprised how a conversation and relationship can develop.

During my college years, one of the ways I practiced learning about others is by taking time to ask the cafeteria people, my classmates, my professors, the people who worked in the bookstore, etc. how their days were going and listening to what these people had to say. By taking time to simply ask, "Are you having a good day?" or "What have you been up to lately?" and listening to their responses, it set me apart because I took time to show I cared about the person I was asking the question to. It made me a more familiar and friendly face on campus and I was able to make a lot of friends as a result of this.

Building relationships is key but how you go about doing it is important as well. Take time to learn about others and it can open up more doors then you can imagine.