This is not a topic I can cover in a short bit, so I'm not going to try to. I'm no expert on this topic anyway, just a fellow muddler here to share some reference books I find helpful and maybe inspire some thought.
I always start with Dale Carnegie'sHow to Win Friends and Influence People, it offers very good advice about listening, asking questions, and simple little tips, like using a person's name. While these may seem like "well duh!" things, if you listen to the book, only 7hrs 15mins at regular speed, you will focus, and pay more attention to these simple moves in your life, helping to build relationships. From the same er, Dorothea Brande offers more simple and sound advice for personal excellence inWake Up & Live, only 3hrs 44mins. To skip ahead several decades, Malcolm Gladwell offers a powerful examination of our interactions with people we don't know inTalking to Strangers, 8hrs 42mins. Don't forget the classic relationship book,Men are from Mars, Women are from Venusby John Gray, at 9hrs 28 mins, it will fill a shift and open your eyes.
The next couple are not categorically relationship books, but you may find some refreshing views to consider when working with, dealing with, and even living with others in your life. In a short 3hrs 22mins, Tom Rath gives us some simple changes we can make for our own health and our daily interactions with others in his bookAre You Fully Charged?It helps to remember that we are all wired differently, we think, look at situations, and even hear the same words differently. An interesting look at how to work with these differences is offered in Ray Dalio's book titledPrinciples, at 16hrs 5mins it will easily take you through two driving shifts.
If you are looking for ideas to help in your relationships with children, an 8hr 41min book by Alfie Kohn calledUnconditional Parentingwas an inspirational listen that, among other things, helps us remember life from the child's perspective. If you or someone in your life has dealt with trauma, relationships can be especially difficult. I suggestThe Body Keeps the Score, a 16hr 17min listen by Bessel Van der Kolk MD. Focused on relationships in the workplace, Scott McKain offers a 6hr 19min listen titled7 Tenets of Taxi Terrythat is both enlightening and entertaining.
Ever trying to improve myself, I'm re-listening the helpful book by Gretchen Rubin,Better than Before, it's 9hrs 33mins of making and breaking habits. Habits influence how we do every bit of life, including our relationships!
If you have any books that have helped you in this area or want to discuss any of these, feel free to start a post under the topic 'The Book Club' at HealthyTribe.com and tag me, I'd love to hear from you!
Sara Pingel
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