Making Better Friendships in 2017
This New Year, make new friends and widen your horizon.
We are social animals who interact with people in our surroundings. Some become friends and others, colleagues. It is important for us to maintain good relationships with both friends as well as co-workers. As 2017 approaches, why not take this opportunity to widen your friends circle and get to know more people.
Author Dale Carnegie has written a book aptly titled ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ way back in 1937. Taking a few points from him and adding some of my own, here’s a list of things we can do to make friends:
- Praise others sincerely: Everyone likes compliments and if your aim is to influence more people, it is important to get into their good books. The first step in this direction should be praising others. The praise, however, should be genuine and sincere. As Dale Carnegie puts it, “Nobody wants insincerity. Nobody wants flattery.” Heartfelt praise is sure to win you many friends.
- Criticize, but gently: Another important point to keep in mind if you want to make more friends is that one should not openly criticize anything they do. People who want to be influential figures should offer advice in such a manner that it acknowledges the hard work put in by people. Their mistakes should be pointed out in a calm, positive manner.
- Respect others’ opinion: If you want to be an influential person, then it is important that you give equal importance to the opinion of others. If there is a deadlock over any issue, the best way out would be to seek everyone’s opinion and move forward. This will go a long way in leaving an impression on others.
- Show empathy: We all know that old saying: ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’. If you truly want to be friends with someone, you must know their situation better. Empathize with them and try to be a genuine friend.
