What are effective strategies for building strong, supportive relationships?

To nurture robust and empowering relationships, consider these essential elements: 1. Communication: Effective communication stands as the cornerstone of thriving connections. It's the key to establishing clear expectations and preventing misunderstandings. 2. Commitment: Sustainable relationships hinge on mutual dedication. Without this commitment, one party may find the relationship burdensome, ultimately leading to its decline. 3. Compromise: Supportive relationships often demand the art of compromise. It's the willingness to set aside minor concerns and focus on the broader, more significant aspects of the connection. The ability to find common ground is paramount in maintaining harmonious relationships.

The 3 pillars of strong relationships: Communication - Listen to what others are saying (active listening) and open truthful dialogue Empathy - Empathize, create a connection and validate feeling Consistency - Prioritize the relationship, show up and be true to your word (build trust)

Building whakawhanaungatanga is all about building connections and family-like relationships. Understanding who you are, where you are from and what is important to you (both personally and professionally) and sharing these with others, builds trust, openness, and connections. Once you have built relational trust, you can move into supporting each other and growing together. Au Kaha, Kia Kaha - empowered together!

I think applying Stephen Covey's habit of seeking first to understand, before being understood is critical in terms of building a strong relationship. This requires being present in conversations and active listening.

Combined with my experience, stories from others, and research, I would suggest: (1) Frontloading the relationship: invest early in your relationships. Take the time to get to know people's communication habits (from speech patterns to medium preferences) and overall what makes them tick. (2) Give input early & often: let people know when you appreciate something they did, even the small stuff. Let them know when you would've preferred something else, and when you simply don't functional well with x, y, or z. Solicit feedback on the same. (3) Be open: stay curious about them and never get too comfortable in your vision of them. They may be more complicated than you thought, and they certainly do change!

Active listening is the superpower of a coach, where it becomes an art and science combined. It's the ability to truly understand someone, often better than one understands himself. It's the secret power that makes coaching truly transformative. Movies such as “Good Will Hunting” play up powerful examples of active listening. In a pivotal scene, the therapist Sean actively listens to Will as he opens up about his past and deepest insecurities. Through this deep connection and active listening, Sean helps Will break through emotional barriers and embark on a journey of self-discovery. This illustrates how active listening can be a profound catalyst for change, not just in the movies but also in the real world of coaching and mentoring.

Actively listening It also mean a genuine interest to learn and be educated about their situation, the way they are feeling and the way their mind works. It is important to note that while you listen intently the primary goal should NOT be to only provide feedback or offer advise but rather to understand and connect where possible emotionally. Everything else that comes from listening is secondary. Doing this help you to not have formed opinion before you would have fully hear their story- this is where clarifying questions come handy.

Everyone likes to be heard. Keep that simple rule in mind. Practice active listening by giving your full attention to the person speaking. Show empathy, ask clarifying questions, and avoid interrupting. This demonstrates that you value and respect their perspective. Even if you disagree with them, do so in a polite and respectful manner.

Listen to what is said and what is not. Body language, reflection and clarification will assist with this most hard to master skill!

Respecting boundaries is a two-way street. Coach and client collaborate to establish a framework that ensures personal comfort and trust. That’s like the groundwork for an effective and deeply supportive coaching relationship. Want to use the analogy of a skilled sculptor's patience with a chisel and hammer. Just as a sculptor carefully and patiently chips away at a rock boulder to reveal the hidden beauty of an idol, a coach must create a safe and non-judgmental space. For example, a client setting a boundary is like a sculptor marking the areas not to touch. The coach builds trust by honoring the boundary and allows the client to gradually open up unveiling his potential for profound transformational conversations.

We are all different and unique. This makes us both interesting and challenging. It is vital to respect the boundaries of others and to clearly communicate your own boundaries. This helps establish a respectful and considerate relationship. When people respect each other's boundaries, trust is fostered.

It is important to manage mobile technology. By now, everyone has a mobile phone and many people have two or more. While they are a lifesaver in an emergency, and an effective tool for communication, they also can be a total distraction when people demonstrate a lack of mobile phone etiquette.

Humor and Fun: Share Laughter: Find humor in everyday situations. Laughter can strengthen your connection and alleviate stress. Adventure: Explore new experiences together. Trying new things can create excitement and deepen your bond.

Being flexible is so important in all coaching relationships. It starts with respecting the other person and already seeing them for their greatness from the very beginning. As situations or circumstances change, this view of their greatness doesn’t change, which means this new situation is then an opportunity to support, empower and even coach them when possible. Change is inevitable, some you have some control of and others not so much. Adapting and learning to work with change brings invaluable insights and if/when navigated well, can strengthen relationships even further.

I recall in one of my initial coaching sessions, I asked my client for feedback on their sessions, and she mentioned that she'd appreciate more space to explore her thoughts before receiving solutions. This was great feedback since I tend to try jump in and solve problems and this can tend to come across as being impatient. I listened attentively, acknowledged her feedback, and committed to giving her that space in future sessions. This exchange strengthened our coaching relationship by displaying receptiveness and willingness to adapt to the clients needs and preferences. Remember that feedback is a valuable tool for continuous improvement in your coaching practice.

Feedback is a cornerstone of any relationship. It facilitates learning, growth, and self-awareness, aligns goals, strengthens the relationship, and supports ongoing improvement. When both mentor and mentee are committed to providing and receiving feedback, the mentorship becomes a valuable and impactful experience for all parties involved.

I live by the principle of acknowledgment. As human beings, we like to be appreciated for our efforts and acknowledgment brings a sense of achievement and purpose. An example of where to start might be right at the beginning. As I speak as a coach or mentor, the relationship starts with understanding who they are. I am actively listening and reflecting back to them on their achievements, accomplishments and potential. This serves as a fantastic acknowledgment of who they are and reflection upon their greatness. While doing it at the start of a coaching relationship helps to know each other and build a connection, making it a regular practice throughout future conversations helps build more openness, trust and reach untapped potential.

Appreciation: Express Gratitude: Show appreciation for the other person regularly. Acknowledge their efforts and express how much they mean to you. Small Gestures: Little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness can strengthen the bond. It could be a note, a surprise, or a small gift.

Building strong, supportive relationships requires several key strategies: -Open and honest communication -Active listening and clear expression Empathy and understanding -Trust and reliability -Quality time together -Constructive conflict resolution Following these strategies will help you encourage strong, supportive relationships.

Connecting, Connecting, Connecting! Establishing a secure and strong connection with each coachee is the cornerstone of effective coaching. It creates a foundation of trust, empathy and open communication which in turn leads to the development of powerful coaching relationships.

Checking in when there’s not a “need” to check in will help build long-lasting, supportive relationships. It’s common for individuals to reach out when they need support. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, building trust through regular contact and conversations that have NOTHING to do with work, helps to establish strong relationships over time.

We often say that a relationship is 50/50 but then place most of the blame on the other person when there's an issue. Relationships get stronger when you take the initiative to “own” them. Instead of tit-for-tat. Try putting in more than half of the effort. You’ll be amazed at what can happen

Trust: Be Reliable: Follow through on your promises and be consistent in your actions. Reliability builds trust over time. Confidentiality: Respect the other person's privacy. Avoid sharing sensitive information without their consent.