Modern life is often stressed, busy, lived at a fast pace. Often there can seem to be no time available for the niceties of life, the pleasantries and chit-chat that can follow-up after essential matters have been dealt with. But those informal moments that we take to smile, chat, and enquire after someone’s health, holiday, pet or family are often the moments that stay with the other person long after any business has been completed.
Being friendly builds relationships. It enhances our personal connections and turns an acquaintance or colleague into something more meaningful. Many business people regard networking as in important part of their business day. They spend hours attending breakfast, lunch and evening meetings to meet, greet and build relationships with other professionals, all to improve future contacts and opportunities to do business.
But networking isn’t just about meeting someone and exchanging business cards. All the networking in the world will not help build a relationship of any lasting depth if there isn’t a degree of friendliness or an interest demonstrated. We need to know, like and trust each other enough to want to do business together or to want to recommend to our circle of contacts.
Newly single people, newcomers to an area, first-timers attending a place in the hope of making new friendships with like-minded people all have to learn the value of making pleasant small talk and being interested and friendly with other people. We need to demonstrate interest, prove that we’re listening and be genuinely interested, all ways to show that we’re keen to be friendly.
Being friendly adds a positive dimension to relationships.
– It helps manage stress in tense situations. When there is a friendly atmosphere people relax and are more able to be themselves. People are less fearful, cautious or tense if they feel that people around them are friendly. A friendly atmosphere removes the need to be wary, guarded or defensive. We can relax and trust the process.
– It gets the best out of everyone. Whether playing a game or involved in a piece of work, if the atmosphere is unfriendly then people become nervous and stressed, fearful of making a mistake or of doing something wrong. A friendly atmosphere encourages people to have a go and be less self-conscious about the outcome. Often they’ll relax and perform much better.
– Better contacts are made for the future. Relationships develop, people enjoy each other’s company and are more inclined to try harder to support and help each other when they feel a warmth and friendliness. People will often bend over backwards when they like someone. We’re more eager to help a friendly person.
– It improves confidence. People are happier and more relaxed about mixing with others, they take more chances, manage stress levels better and are more motivated when they feel friendly towards each other. Everyone benefits. In a friendly, supportive atmosphere. Nervous people often improve in confidence and find the courage to have a go; confident people often become more generous and supportive of others. People relax, volunteer more information and discover more about each other. It’s often interesting to see how much relationships improve.
– People are often happier to make more of an effort, work longer hours, be more resourceful when the atmosphere is friendly. Appreciation, recognition and thanks often come freely with a friendly environment. People are more inclined to manage stress, do their best work and be more enthusiastic. Job satisfaction increases as a result. A by-product is that sick leave and clock-watching is often reduced.
– Complaints are often more speedily resolved if the complainant has a friendly manner. Think of an angry, irate customer, shouting and swearing, perhaps threatening in manner. That person may well get results, but often better results come from calmly explaining the problem and being friendly towards the person who’s trying to resolve the matter. They are more likely to put themselves out and think of ways around the problem when they are treated respectfully and in a friendly manner.
Much good can come from such a little effort and being friendly improves every area of our life, including our own.We feel better, are able to manage stress more effectively and find that our relationships improve as a consequence.
