There are only two kinds of relationships – those that are long-term and those that are very long-term. The rest are acquaintances. Long-term relationships are deep and are built to weather the storms along the way.
Here are ten small things wonderful people do to build deeper relationships:
1. They (Genuinely) Care
They care for what you care about as if it’s their own. There is a difference between genuinely caring and “pretending to care” and they clearly are in the former camp. When they converse with you, they tend to drop their agenda and focus on yours.
2. They Remember
I am not talking about birthdays and anniversaries. They care about things that matter most to you. In other words, they act as your self-appointed accountability partners. They catch things that you might have dropped owing to your busy schedule.
3. They (Thoughtfully) Connect
They thoughtfully connect you to people from their network to expand the space of your own possibilities in your personal and professional life. They are keenly aware that your capacity expands significantly when you are connected to the right people.
4. They Follow-up
They are relentless in their followup – not on what they need from you, but on things that move the needle of your personal and professional lives. They are aware that you start your projects with great intentions, but like everyone else you need a helping hand in following them through to completion.
5. They Make You Think
They don’t simply accept what you say when it comes to you taking important (game-changing) decisions in your work and life. They ask thoughtful questions that will make you think and re-think. In the process, you end up making better decisions.
6. They Celebrate Your Wins
They are not “passively jealous” of your wins. They celebrate your wins with all their heart. In addition, they ensure that you don’t rest on your laurels by helping you set your sights on the next big thing for you.
7. They (Really) Listen
They listen to what you say AND they also listen to what you don’t say. They read between the lines to get to the bottom of what’s the real underlying issue that is bothering you. They also create a level of comfort for you to openly share your hopes, dreams, desires, fears, challenges, concerns, wishes and your wants.
8. They Smile
They are like a fresh breeze. They walk in with a smile all the time. It’s a joy to be spending time with them. You are in a flow when they are around.
9. They Make YOU Smile
They touch your life in such a powerful way that you start feeling good about yourself. They accentuate your positives and help you cover your negatives. In short, they make you smile and feel blessed. In their presence. you feel relaxed and at ease about life.
10. They Are Just a Phone Call Away
They make it clear and mean it when they say they are just a phone call away. They are there for you in good times and bad times. Just the fact that they are available in case you need them gives you a boost in your confidence to take on the challenges ahead.
11. They Demonstrate a High PGQ
Practical Generosity Quotient (PGQ) is the capacity one adds in relation to the capacity the other person needs to move the needle in a significant way. They bring with them a PGQ so high that you don’t have a choice but to feel blessed to be their friend.
In summary, your life is wonderful because you are surrounded by these wonderful people. Build deep relationships with these people and make your life magical.
Featured photo credit: Black Chaos via flickr.com
