5 Steps to Building a Strong Relationship

You need more than time to have a truly solid relationship

Wendy Miller

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Photo by: bernardbodo via Getty Images

Have you ever invested your time and emotions to build a relationship, only to see that relationship destroyed in a matter of minutes? When it was all over, and the dust settled, did you find yourself wondering, “What happened?”

Whether the relationship is in your business or personal life, strong relationships take time, attention, and energy to build, maintain, and nurture.

And I think most of us have had that moment where we wondered what happened. We thought we were doing enough, thought our partner was doing enough, only to realize that something was missing. Something wasn’t being done.

Relationships are important to everyone. As the saying goes, “No man is an island.” We need and depend on each other. Our relationships help define who we are and how we get along in the world. We’re often judged by the company we keep and our relationships are part of this.

Without relationships, a business cannot exist for long. Regardless of what type of business you have, you need good working relationships. At the very least, you need people to do business with! Forming healthy relationships with your customers and colleagues is an integral part of the recipe for success.

Additional types of relationships include family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, supervisors, mentors, and more. These relationships add layers of depth to your life. Each one can touch your life and make a difference, so you want to build and cherish these relationships as well.

Here are 5 essential keys to building healthy, profitable relationships:

Be Honest

People respond to honesty. In a world where people are often faced with scams and lies, honesty is a priority. The relationships you form with honesty as a foundation will be strong and powerful.

This honesty is even more crucial when the truth is painful or uncomfortable. When you know that what you have to say will hurt someone’s feelings or make one or both of you uncomfortable, it can be tempting to lie — or even to simply “soften” the truth by leaving out the most hurtful parts or fibbing about them…

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