17 Small Ways to Deepen Your Connections

Write a handwritten note

"The intentional act of finding and crafting a handwritten letter is a small, yet meaningful way to show I care.”

—Tianna Soto, journalist and keynote speaker, New York, NY

Invite your neighbors over for a get-together

“I have been intentional about taking walks with neighbors, inviting them over for dinner, or throwing neighborhood get-togethers outside by our firepit overlooking our lake.”

—April Likins, stress coach, VA

Make an introduction between two friends

“To strengthen connections, I like to make introductions. Once I meet someone who shares her goals, passions, or experiences, I connect her to someone else in my network who may have similar ambitions, directions, or interests.”

—Stacy Cassio, CEO, Charlotte, NC

Send an impromptu voice note

“Leaving a voice note allows the person to experience the warmth of your voice, inflection, humor, and love and respond at a time convenient for them.”

—Katie Sandoe, entrepreneur and educator, Lancaster, PA

Invite a friend over for a home cooked meal

“I love spending quality time with the people I care about, and I’ll invite them over and cook some of their favorite food. I find these little acts of appreciation really tend to deepen our connection.”

—Bianca Riemer, team coach, London, UK

Call someone haven’t spoken to in a while

“One way I maintain strong bonds is by picking up the phone and calling people.”

—Jonathan Vassallo, FAM Founder, ON, Canada

Send your friend a funny message

“A solid banter or a meme exchange always adds a boost of dopamine and a smile for days.”

—Joshua Miller, master certified executive coach, Austin TX

Check in regularly

“I strengthen the bond of friendship by always checking in to see if they are doing okay, and we track each other’s flights when traveling to make sure they land safely.”

—Elaine Hamilton, author and life coach, Santa Fe, NM

Bring flowers from your garden to a neighbor

“I share my flowers and cuttings from my plants with my neighbors, community, and friends. It appears to bring joy and happiness to those around me, as well as myself!”

—Deborah Morrison, retired corpora controller, Baja CA, MX

Send a “thinking of you” message

“It might just be a ‘what’s up,’ or a gif saying ‘you rock.’ It takes less than a minute and helps them see that they’re on my mind. They almost always write back right away. It helps keep bonds strong and free of any sense of transaction.”

—Josh Levs consultant and author, Atlanta, GA

Create texting groups to stay in touch

“One small way I continue to deepen my connections with people is to stay in contact via WhatsApp personally and via groups.”

—Dr. Nadine Collins, speaker, women’s leadership expert and empowerment coach and author, Atlanta, GA

Send photo updates of your life to loved ones

“I love sending along photo snippets of daily life!”

—Marijke McCandless, mindfulness coach, Las Vegas, NV

Pay attention to small details

“I try to remember small details about my friends. Remembering small details about someone’s life, such as their favorite color or hobby, shows that we care about them and are interested in their life.”

—John McCartney, APR, public relations professional, Los Angeles, CA

Schedule your connections in your calendar

“I use my weekly planner to stay on track with prioritizing my connections. I have a space in my planner called ‘connections.’ Each Sunday, when I sit down to map out my week, I write down who I will connect with and how I will do that.”

—Emily Madill, author and certified professional coach (ACC), Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

Attend a local event

“By doing so, I get to see friends I usually haven’t seen in a long time. I connect with the friends at my table and I meet new people, all the while, supporting my favorite non-profit.”

—Gerry J. Tucker, author and consultant, Austin, TX

Stay present when you’re with others

“It encourages me to fully see, hear, and appreciate the person I am trying to start or continue a meaningful connection with, and it has deepened my relationships.”

—Shea Ki, career momentum coach, Ashburn, VA

Ask meaningful questions

“One of the things that I do when catching up with a friend is ensure phones are away and not in sight. It gives us both our undivided attention and also shows we’re making intentional effort to be present with one another.”

—Lisa De Nicola, coach and corporate consultant, Toronto, Ontario

Read the complete article available at Thrive Global!

Reflection:

What are your favorite methods of deepening connections?

#Friendship #Connection #Communication

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