Developing relationship skills is the key to successful interaction with others. Whether it is a brief encounter or a long-term relationship, focusing on certain skills can make any interaction more productive. Therefore, relationship skills are an important part of developing or teaching life skills. Relationships skills, in general, are built on solid personal strengths, especially good character, which includes honesty, trustworthiness, self-discipline and self-control (A-R-E-A of Control). Kindness and patience also go a long way in building strong relationships.
Without a doubt, mutual trust and respect is the cornerstone of any successful interaction. This is true during limited encounters (sales clerks, contractors, doctors), but especially true in longer-term relationships (friends, family, co-workers, partners, spouses) that involve continual interaction. Interaction implies action on both sides. Therefore, every interaction should be a two-way street; a give-and-take that involves both participants. (Again, this is particularly true in relationships.) To restate an often overlooked success secret, no one can sustain a positive relationship alone - even if he or she has exceptional relationship skills