Positive Human Relations - A Key to Success

Getting along with people is important in all walks of life – but developing and maintaining good personal human relations in politics and in business is a must – for a successful career. Andrew Sherwood wrote a book titled Breakpoints where he offers the following keys to good human relations. Of course, we all know these, through experience, but it always helps to have a memory jogger in a proper structured manner. Speak to people. There is nothing as well received as a cheerful word of greeting. It is not just the words – Good morning or Good evening. It is also the tone, the look in the eyes, the expression on the face. Smile at people. Be generous with your smile. After all, it takes 72 muscles to frown only 14 to smile. Why do more exercise when you can get by with less? But again, the smile must come through your eyes – not just your lips. It has to be a ‘genuine’ smile. Call people by name. The sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of his or her own name. And the less the person is a public figure and the less frequently you have met and yet you remember the name, the sweeter it sounds. Be friendly and helpful. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It can be even simple things like promising to give a telephone number next day, of an old friend that someone wants to contact. One does not have to do big favours. In fact, these are not generally expected. Be cordial. Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure, not an intrusion and certainly not a burden. Be sincerely interested in people. You can like everybody, if you try. The trouble is we make up our minds about people in advance, based on their looks, their dress, or what someone might have whispered into our ears. Be generous with praisecautious with criticism. And what you say, always goes round and back to the person. You can make friends or enemies this way. Be thoughtful of the opinion of others. There are three sides to a controversy – yours, the other persons and the right one. It is always best to state your position and back off – rather than persisting in holding the fort. Be considerate for the feelings of others. It will be appreciated. If you cannot find anything to say – they say nothing. Winston Churchill’s advice holds true – You must know when to stand up and speak out – and also know, when to sit down and shut up! It’s nothing new – but bears constant reminding, if we are going to add a large dose of human skills to our technical skills.