MAKE TIME TO CONNECT.
When you’re dealing with deadlines at work, attending to your family’s needs, traveling the world, or pursuing hobbies, it’s challenging to connect with friends. But making time for friends is essential if you want to keep them.
BUILD TRUST.
Practicing honesty and transparency, keeping confidences, and showing genuine interest in your friend’s well being are key to establishing trust. Do what you say you’re going to do. Keep your promises or renegotiate if you can’t keep them.
RESOLVE DISAGREEMENTS IN EMOTIONALLY MATURE WAYS.
Get through conflicts by expressing what’s on your mind instead of allowing resentment to fester. State your preferences and point of view to create clarity and encourage dialogue, instead of making arguments to try and coerce your friend into agreeing with you.
BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK.
Asking for your friend’s comments, thoughts and opinions on your latest project or a decision you have to make is a huge compliment to them. Whether they have similar or different backgrounds, beliefs and philosophies, good friends bring a unique perspective to your life.
KEEP THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
Healthy friendships are built on equality and respect, not co-dependence and obligation. Hold your good friends in high regard and expect them to keep their promises and act in alignment with their values and ideals. While being non-judgmental goes a long way, you can gently ask your friend questions to help him become more self-aware and conscious of his choices.
GET TO KNOW THEM PERSONALLY.
If you want to keep good friends, show up at their celebrations, including birthday parties, graduation shindigs, weddings and baby showers. Even if it’s just for an hour, your putting in face time at special events will be remembered and appreciated. You get to capture touching photos and make lasting memories of a shared experience and unique occasion.
GIVE THEM SPACE.
Being too needy or clingy can drive good friends away. When your friend doesn’t call you back, return your email, or reply to your text message as quickly as you’d like, don’t make it into a big deal.
