10 Ways to Build Positive Relationships

Barbara Bray
4 min readNov 14, 2021

Humans are naturally social beings. It is all about the relationships we build and grow. The better the relationships are at school, the happier and more productive students and teachers will be. When we have positive relationships, everything we do will be more enjoyable. When relationships are working, everyone is happier, more innovative, and creative. Here are ten ways to build positive relationships:

1. Create and Grow the Culture

Put aside at least two weeks at the beginning of school to build a caring, compassionate culture before jumping into the content. Don’t stop there though. Keep building the culture with personal greetings and inviting each student to share stories throughout the year. The more you get to know each student upfront will save you time later worrying about discipline and behaviors.

“Growing a culture requires a good storyteller. Changing a culture requires a persuasive editor.” Ryan Lilly

2. Build Trust

Trust is the foundation of every good relationship. If you trust the people at school, you can be open and honest with your thoughts and actions. Put time aside to discuss issues and let everyone have opportunities to speak. If there is a conflict, give them time and support to the people involved so they can resolve it.

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Barbara Bray

Story Weaver ~ Podcast host ~ Author “Define Your WHY” ~ Co-author 2 books on Making Learning Personal ~ Author "Grow Your Why" ~ New Podcast "Real Talk"