8 Habits...

Eight habits, or skills if you want, you should consider to improve your human relationships, they’re not part of the latest business fad or something like that, these skills don’t go out of style or out of date, whether in business or in your personal life.

Leaders of every level in the corporate ladder and in every industry have practiced at least some of these skills. As the leader of your team, check them all and consider how well you and everyone on your team practice them. Encouraging their use just might smooth some ruffled feathers or diffuse a tense situation.

1. SPEAK TO PEOPLE There is nothing like a cheerful word of greeting. To really connect, look them in the eye as you speak.

2. SMILE AT PEOPLE It takes 72 muscles to frown, only 14 to smile. They can hear the difference in your voice – even over the phone.

3. CALL PEOPLE BY NAME <-- This is a Must for Me.

The sweetest music to anyone's ear is the sound of his/her own name. Be sure you say it correctly. Say it often.

4. BE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL <-- I know it's hard sometimes but you have to do it.

To have friends and build relationships, be a friend first.

5. BE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN PEOPLE <-- You can do it, just give it a try.

You can like almost everybody if you try. They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Be sure they know how much you care.

6. BE GENEROUS WITH PRAISE Praise publicly, correct privately. Everyone wins this way.

7. BE CONSIDERATE of the feelings of others. There are usually three sides to a controversy: yours, the other person's, and the right side. Keep ego and emotions in check.

8. HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR Don't take yourself too seriously. When you add lots of patience, and humility, you will have a recipe for enduring success.

Do you think these are soft skills you can brush aside as non-critical? Think again. In this Conceptual Age, a deeper understanding of the subtleties of human interactions becomes not only important but imperative.

Remember Be Alert, Be A Leader