Scott Ginsburg has a great column in the latest newsletter from Jeffrey Gitomer. In the article he discusses a double-handful of ways that you can make someone feel important, valued, and needed. These are, of course, important ways to develop and enhance your relationship with your team at work, even your family and friends.

If you don't write it down, it will never happen!

I was struck by three of these tips, involving the use of notes:

3. Take notes. Taking notes is proof. Taking notes keeps you mindful in the conversation. Taking notes honors someone’s thoughts. Taking notes is respectful. Taking notes increases someone’s self-esteem. Not to mention, if you don’t write it down, it never happened. Do you carry a notebook or jotter with you at all times?

4. Come back to notes. At a later date, refer back to the notes you took while listening to somebody. If possible, physically show that person the notes you took. Explain how you’ve applied their ideas since originally writing them down. How are you reinforcing the size of your ears?

5. Tell people to write things down. This practice takes note taking one step further. Next time someone says something powerful, instead of YOU jotting it down, tell HER to jot it down. It not only honors her thoughts; it gives her a chance to capture something valuable that she may not have recognized until you said something. How are you encouraging people’s inner poet?

Note-taking is an important skill for everyone, but I find it very interesting that Ginsberg suggests that we should encourage the note-taking skills of those we work and live with. The line, “if you don’t write it down, it never happened” (or never will...) is one of the gold nuggets in this article, and instilling this principle in those around you could go along way toward improving communication, teamwork, and eventual success.

What say you? Let’s discuss Note-taking and Relationships in the forum.