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Guest post by: Martin Haworth Become an Author

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Getting the best from your people is vital if you are to make the best progress in your business or organisation. Much comes from the way you interact personally and here are just ten key actions to take to build great, fulfilling and productive relationships...

This might be a bit of a no-brainer for you.

If you have any role at all in managing people, you need to ensure that you develop great people skills.

By building rapport, you will develop ongoing, productive relationships with all of your people, which will give you an enormous return on the efforts you put in.

Here are ten things you can do, all of them easy, which will remarkably change the response you get from your people, the key asset you have in your business or organisation:-

1. Just Have Conversations

About anything! Talking to and more importantly, listening to your people regularly and informally is a great asset. It doesn't matter what it's about, Your understanding of them and their trust in you will magnify if you devote priority time to this each and every day.

2. Listen & Show you are Listening

Take the time to really listen to each of your people, rather than just tell. If you truly hear, they will respond. Hearing is more - it is about what you do with the stuff you've listened to. And by using your face, your body language, eye contact and what you say (see 3 below), you will go a long way to showing that you are listening closely.

3. Ask Another Question

Such a simple tactic. Ask secondary questions about what you've been told. Nothing, but nothing builds rapport and relationships like this. It shows that what they have been telling you is valuable, is interesting and builds their confidence. And you have been there to make that happen.

4. Support

Your people need you to help them along the way. With your support, they will flower and grow. Support is what they hear from you - it works both ways.

5. Coach

Don't get bogged down with technicalities. Coaching is about helping them see where they want to get to from where they are now. It's about exploring the possibilities - their possibilities, not yours and calling to action. Simple as that.

6. Clear Expectations

By ensuring that all your people know exactly what you expect of them, they will tune in to delivering it. Confusion over performance is demoralising and saps energy. Take the time to be clear.

7. Pay attention

In any conversation with your people, give your full attention. Do your utmost to avoid being interrupted or distracted and truly value them for what they are saying to you - and the message you are giving them.

8. Show an Interest in Them

These are real people and if you delve a little, it will show up. Having a real interest in who they are, their hopes and fears, their passions and what's important to them makes a big, big difference to how they perceive you. Get to know the name of their dog if their dog is their most prized posession!

9. Follow Through

During conversations you may offer actions that will be of value to them. Responses to what they have said to you. Make sure that you deliver these. Follow up and report back. Take actions you say you will. If you can't, tell them why.

10. Remember Conversations

When you have subsequent conversations, recall something that was said previously and bring it up. This is hugely rewarding for them and lets them know that they said something of value.

Great managers really understand their people and work out ways to get the best out of every one of them.

Maximising value from the most valuable asset you have in your business.

Your people.

Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. www.MartinHaworth.com

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