Humans cannot survive alone in the wilderness. They are born into a society and interact with the people who make up that society throughout their lives. As they influence others, they are influenced by others either negatively or positively. Interactions created by relationships are among the key elements that shape our lives.

Adult relationships include our relationships with colleagues, managers, friends in social life, and partners in emotional life. A deeper look into the adult relationships indicates that they cover a wide array of fields including interpersonal communication models, effective communication methods, body language, communication skills, verbal and non-verbal communication, listening skills, empathic approaches, corporate behavior, conflicts and obstacles in interpersonal communication.

Open and honest communication is a key element for relationships. You may have differences; however, if you are aware of what they are and why the other person feels that particular way, you may usually have an in-depth talk and reach an agreement. At times, it might be helpful to double-check if the things you say are understood correctly. Misunderstandings can easily happen and result in resentment, anger or confusion. You may give a lot of information with your gestures (e.g. your body language, voice tone, and facial expression) without using any words and observe that others do the same. Such non-verbal ways of communication tell more about how you feel about that person than you can imagine.

Relationships may change or evolve over time. Relationships in our professional, personal or social lives may change for a number of reasons. Adults’ areas of interest, levels of self-confidence, and attitudes also change over time. Dynamics change with work becoming increasingly demanding, change in responsibilities, one of the parents retiring, a new-born member joining the family, people relocating to another country, and with the outbreak of the pandemic. All those changes bring along challenges; however, if a relationship is built upon solid foundations, people are able to talk about their concerns and find their own solutions, then they can overcome those challenges more easily.

And one must always remember that our relationship is critical for our well-being and establishing healthy and happy relationships with others. The examples may include being gentle with yourself, spending some time for yourself, walking by the seaside or playing some ball games with kids.

Please now ask yourself the following questions from a holistic perspective onto the concept of relationships, within the light of the above points: What can you do to improve, enrich, and differentiate your relationships in different aspects of your life? What does actually or potentially contribute to your relationships?

Positive relationships with colleagues contribute to the efforts to create a positive work environment, where an adult is more likely to feel happy and motivated to work as they feel included and supported by their colleagues.

In work life:

According to the results of research, one third of our lives is spent at work,  which makes it obvious that positive relationships with colleagues bring more pleasure to our work and, in turn, our lives. The more comfortable colleagues feel with one another, the more self-confidence they will have in terms of brainstorming and expressing opinions. A working environment reinforced by positive relationships can foster high motivation and productivity. Good relationships at work can also boost the feeling of independence across individuals.

Positive adult relationships at schools are at the center of the well-being of teachers as well as students and promotes an effective learning environment. If the relationships between administrators and teachers are trusting, generous, helpful, and cooperative, then the relationships between teachers and students, between students and students, and between teachers and parents are likely to be trusting, generous, helpful, and cooperative. (Barth, 2006, 8)

In our social relationships:

Positive social relationships are important facilitators for emotional resilience, alongside helping build a happy and healthy life. Staying connected with those whom we share positive relationships serves as a robust shield against stress, while paving the way for positive feelings. Therefore, it is worth reflecting and working on how to build and strengthen positive relationships in your social life. What can you do to achieve these?

Try to connect with others by observing the principle of mutuality in your relationships. Things you can do include being kind, generous, participatory, attentive, and receptive.

Make sure to be a tactful participant in a relationship. Ask questions, listen to what the other person says attentively, share how you feel, and show some empathy.

Spend some time to nurture your relationship and connect with the other person. This does not have to be face to face. You may have a video call or just write to them. If possible, try to make the time spent together meaningful, free from any other distraction or doing something else, by focusing only on that moment of communication.

Here are some tips to develop meaningful relationships defined by respect:

• Being dependable
• Listening
• Asking questions
• Supporting Your Colleagues
• Offering Help
• Respecting Boundaries
• Being factual
• Celebrating