Dear Abby & Ann Landers are no longer with us, but there are scads of other advice columns in print & electronic media to help people through relationship challenges. Since much of their advice for personal situations can be applied to business relationships, over the next several Wednesdays, we’ll let them do our work for us in the Change Your Character exercise.
This week, it’s brainstorming starters for building stronger relationships – generate at least 3 relationship building ideas for your business situation from each piece of advice:
- Make the best possible first impression–be friendly & well dressed with a positive attitude.
- Be yourself & pay attention to your instincts.
- Spend time together to get to know each other.
- Ask questions. Don’t just talk about yourself. Keep the conversation light.
- Be attentive to the other person and don’t talk on your cell phone.
- Be honest.
- Go the extra mile to make the other person comfortable.
- Thank the other person for spending time together.
So if you have some new business relationships to build, this should help you get some fresh ideas. And if you've got a first date lined up for Valentine's Day tomorrow, you can also benefit. Just make sure that you don't apply the ideas from the former situation to the latter - that would be a problem!
Check out a compilation of "Change Your Character" creative thinking exercises and information on its use. – Mike Brown
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