10 Relationship Building Skills and How To Improve Them

Building strong relationships is essential for both personal and professional success. Good relationships can help you find a job, advance in your career and make your personal life more fulfilling. There are many different ways to build relationships, but some basic skills are essential for all types of relationships.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the importance of relationship building and some basic skills that you can use to build strong relationships with others.

Active Listening

Active listening is a key relationship building skill because it allows you to really hear and understand what the other person is saying. When you’re actively listening, you’re not just waiting for your turn to talk. You’re paying attention to the other person, asking questions and rephrasing. This shows the other person that you value them and what they have to say.

Active listening can help build trust, respect and rapport with the person you’re communicating with. It can also help you better understand their needs and goals so that you can better meet them.

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. In relationships, empathy is important because it allows you to see things from your partner’s perspective and understand their feelings. When you can empathize with your partner, you can better communicate and resolve conflicts.

Empathy is a key component of active listening, which is another important relationship building skill. When you’re able to listen to your partner and understand their perspective, you can build trust and resolve conflicts. Trust is a key component of any successful relationship, and resolving conflicts early can help prevent them from becoming bigger and more difficult to resolve.

Questioning

Questioning is an important skill to use in relationships because it allows you to get to know someone better and build a connection. Asking questions allows you to show interest in the other person and to learn more about their interests, beliefs and values. It can also help you to understand the other person’s point of view and to find common ground.

In addition to being a good way to build relationships, questioning can also be a way to resolve conflict. When you ask questions, you are forcing the other person to think about their position and to explain their reasoning. This can help to clarify the issue and to find a solution that is acceptable to both of you.

Reflective Responses

Reflective responses are important in relationship building because they show that you are listening to the other person and understand what they are saying. When you give reflective responses, you are also showing that you have respect for the other person and their point of view. This can build trust and respect in a relationship.

Reflective responses can be used when the other person is speaking to show that you are paying attention and understand what they are saying. You can also use reflective responses to build on what the other person is saying and continue the conversation. For example, if the other person is talking about their vacation, you could say something like, “That sounds like it was a fun trip. I’ve always wanted to go to [location they mentioned].”

Building Rapport

Rapport is a feeling of trust, understanding and agreement between two people. When you have rapport with someone, you feel comfortable with them and can easily communicate. Building rapport is an important skill for relationship building because it can help you establish trust and respect with your clients, customers or colleagues.

Rapport can be built through common interests, similar experiences or by sharing a sense of humor. When you have rapport with someone, you’re more likely to be listened to and respected. Building rapport can also help you better understand the other person and their needs.

Managing Emotions

Managing emotions is an important skill for relationship building because it can help you stay calm and collected in difficult situations. When you’re able to manage your emotions, you’re better able to communicate with others and resolve conflicts. Additionally, managing your emotions can help you build trust with others and create positive relationships.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is an important skill to have in any relationship. It can help you and the person you’re in conflict with to find a resolution that is acceptable to both of you. It can also help to improve your relationship by showing that you are able to work through a difficult situation.

Conflict resolution skills include active listening, compromise, and effective communication. When you are in conflict with someone, it’s important to stay calm and avoid personal attacks. You should try to understand the other person’s point of view and find a resolution that works for both of you.

Negotiation

Negotiation is an important skill to have in relationships because it can help you and your partner reach an agreement on issues that you may have different opinions on. When you can negotiate effectively, you can find a middle ground that works for both of you. This can help improve your relationship by creating a sense of cooperation and compromise.

Negotiation can also help build trust in a relationship because it shows that you are willing to work together to find a solution. When you can negotiate effectively, it shows that you are able to think on your feet and adapt to changing circumstances. This can be a valuable skill in any relationship, whether it’s personal or professional.

Persuasion

Persuasion is an important skill to have in relationships because it can help you convince your partner to see things your way. When you’re able to persuade your partner, you’re able to create a better understanding and a more positive relationship.

To persuade your partner, you need to be able to understand their point of view and why they might be resistant to your idea. Then, you can craft a persuasive argument that will convince them to see things your way. It’s important to be respectful and understanding when you’re persuading your partner.

Influencing

Influencing is the ability to persuade others to see your point of view or take action. It’s a key skill in relationship building because it allows you to build strong relationships by working together to achieve a common goal.

To be an effective influencer, you need to be able to understand and respect the views of others, build trust, and have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. You also need to be able to communicate your ideas in a way that others will understand and be willing to compromise on some issues to reach a common goal.

How to Improve Your Relationship Building Skills

1. Attend workshops or online classes
There are several workshops, online classes and videos on ways you can practice building interpersonal skills. While many are free, some are available at a cost.

2. Seek out opportunities to build relationships
If you work from home or do not otherwise have many opportunities to build interpersonal skills, you might consider joining a group. This could be related to your work like networking or industry-specific groups, or simply a group that shares a similar interest or hobby.

3. Be thoughtful about ways your interactions could improve
Take time to review the interactions you have and consider ways you could have interacted more effectively. This might be certain words you said, ways you reacted or body language you used.

4. Ask trusted friends or colleagues for constructive criticism
It is helpful to get a third-party perspective about your skill level and specific ways you can improve. Ask friends or trusted colleagues to provide constructive criticism regarding your interpersonal skills.

5. Observe other positive interpersonal interaction
It can also be helpful to learn by seeing others use interpersonal skills. Observe positive interactions of those around you and apply those qualities you admire to your own relationships.

6. Seek out mentorship
Asking someone you trust, admire and respect to counsel you on improving interpersonal skills and advancing in your career overall can be an extremely effective way to learn.