The first step in improving your relationship with an employee, customer, family member or friend is to truly connect with that person. Regardless of the relationship you’ve had with that individual in the past, things can always improve.

Here are five approaches to creating and maintaining enduring connections. 

Five Ways to Enhance Relationships over the Holidays 

1. Approach each interaction with positive intent.

Enter each interaction with the expectation that it will be a happy, positive one. That mindset can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

2. Make people your passion.

Don’t get so tied up with gifts, baking, and decorating, that you put people second. Always put people ahead of things.

3. Model the behaviors you want to see in others.

If you want someone to speak more softly, then speak that way yourself. If you want someone to say “please” and “thank you” then use those words when speaking to them.

4. Engage others by focusing on what interests them.

If your employee or niece is a Philadelphia Eagles fan, ask her what she thinks of this year’s team. If your daughter is into Pinterest, ask her what interesting new boards she’s seen. 

5. Use kind, caring words.

They will make your holidays magical!