An interpersonal relationship is a strong, deep, or close association or acquaintance between two or

more people that may range in duration from brief to enduring. This association may be based on
inference, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment.

A strong bond between two or more people refers to interpersonal relationship.

Attraction between individuals brings them close to each other and eventually results in a
strong interpersonal relationship.

Forms of Interpersonal relationship

An interpersonal relationship can develop between any of the following:

 Individuals working together in the same organization.

 People working in the same team.
 Relationship between a man and a woman (Love, Marriage).
 Relationship with immediate family members and relatives.
 Relationship of a child with his parents.
 Relationship between friends.

Relationship can also develop in a group (Relationship of students with their teacher,
relationship of a religious guru with his disciples and so on)

Must have in an Interpersonal Relationship

 Individuals in an interpersonal relationship must share common goals and objectives.

They should have more or less similar interests and think on the same lines. It is
always better if individuals come from similar backgrounds.
 Individuals in an interpersonal relationship must respect each other’s views and
opinions. A sense of trust is important.
 Individuals must be attached to each other for a healthy interpersonal relationship.
 Transparency plays a pivotal role in interpersonal relationship. It is important for an
individual to be honest and transparent.

Stages in Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal relationship refers to a strong association between individuals sharing common
interests and goals.

A sense of trust, loyalty and commitment is essential in a relationship.Individuals need to

trust and respect their partners to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts in relationship.

Stages in an interpersonal relationship

It takes time for a relationship to grow and pass the test of time.

There are two possibilities in a relationship:

 1. Possibility - 1: Two people might start a relationship as mere strangers. They get to
know each other slowly and become emotionally and mentally attached to their
partners gradually. Such relationships often lead to lasting commitments where
individuals decide to be with each other until death separates them.
2. Possibility - 2: Two people might start off well but soon face problems. Troubles in
relationship start when people have different opinions, views and fail to reach to a
mutually acceptable solution. In such cases individuals decide to move on from a
relationship for a fresh start.

According to famous psychologist George Levinger, every relationship goes through

following five stages.

1. First Stage – Acquaintance

Acquaintance refers to knowing each other. To start relationship individuals need to

know each other well.

Two individuals might meet at some place and instantly hit it off. People feel attracted
to each other and decide to enter into a relationship.

Common friends, social gatherings, same organizations also help people meet, break
the ice, get acquainted with each other and start a relationship.

2. Second Stage – The Build up Stage

This is the stage when the relationship actually grows. Individuals are no longer
strangers and start trusting each other.

Individuals must be compatible with each other for the relationship to continue for a
longer period of time. Individuals with similar interests and backgrounds tend to gel
with each other more as compared to individuals from diverse backgrounds and
different objectives.

The build up stage in a relationship is often characterized by two individuals coming

close, being passionate and feeling for each other.

3. Third Stage – Continuation Stage

This is the stage when relationship blossoms into lasting commitments. It is when
people after knowing each other well decide to be in each other’s company and tie the
knot.

Trust and transparency is essential for the charm to stay in relationship forever.

4. Fourth Stage – Deterioration

Not all relationships pass through this stage. Lack of compatibility, trust, love and
care often lead to misunderstandings and serious troubles in relationship.
 Individuals sometimes find it extremely difficult to adjust with each other and
eventually decide to bring their relationship to an end.

Compromise is an integral part of every relationship.Individuals failing to

compromise with each other find it difficult to take the relationship to the next level.

5. Fifth Stage – The Termination Stage

The fifth and the last stage is the end of a relationship.

Relationship terminates due to any of the following reasons

 Death of any one partner

 Divorce
 Separation

An ideal relationship results in lasting commitments and marriages whereas there are some
relationships which do start on a positive note but end abruptly.

Time Management Definition

“Time management” is the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time
between specific activities. Good time management enables you to work smarter – not harder
– so that you get more done in less time, even when time is tight and pressures are high.
Failing to manage your time damages your effectiveness and causes stress.

It seems that there is never enough time in the day. But, since we all get the same 24 hours,
why is it that some people achieve so much more with their time than others? The answer lies
in good time management.

The highest achievers manage their time exceptionally well. By using the time-management
techniques in this section, you can improve your ability to function more effectively – even
when time is tight and pressures are high.

Good time management requires an important shift in focus from activities to results: being
busy isn’t the same as being effective. (Ironically, the opposite is often closer to the truth.)

Spending your day in a frenzy of activity often achieves less, because you’re dividing your
attention between so many different tasks. Good time management lets you work smarter –
not harder – so you get more done in less time.

What Is “Time Management?”

“Time management” refers to the way that you organize and plan how long you spend on
specific activities.
It may seem counter-intuitive to dedicate precious time to learning about time management,
instead of using it to get on with your work, but the benefits are enormous:

 Greater productivity and efficiency.

 A better professional reputation.
 Less stress.
 Increased opportunities for advancement.
 Greater opportunities to achieve important life and career goals.

Failing to manage your time effectively can have some very undesirable consequences:

 Missed deadlines.
 Inefficient work flow.
 Poor work quality.
 A poor professional reputation and a stalled career.
 Higher stress levels.

Spending a little time learning about time-management techniques will have huge benefits
now – and throughout your career.

GOAL SETTING

Goal setting involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a
person or group toward a goal.[1] Goal setting can be guided by goal-setting criteria (or rules)
such as SMART criteria. Goal setting is a major component of personal-development and
management literature.

Studies by Edwin A. Locke and his colleagues have shown that more specific and ambitious
goals lead to more performance improvement than easy or general goals. As long as the
person accepts the goal, has the ability to attain it, and does not have conflicting goals, there
is a positive linear relationship between goal difficulty and task performance.[2]

Goals that are deemed[by whom?] difficult to achieve and specific tend to increase performance
more than goals that are not.[7] A goal can become more specific through quantification or
enumeration (it should be measurable), such as by demanding "...increase productivity by
50%," or by defining certain tasks that must be completed.

Setting goals affects outcomes in four ways:[8]

1. Choice: Goals narrow attention and direct efforts to goal-relevant activities, and away
from goal-irrelevant actions.
2. Effort: Goals can lead to more effort; for example, if one typically produces 4 widgets
an hour, and has the goal of producing 6, one may work more intensely towards the
goal than one would otherwise.
3. Persistence: Someone becomes more likely to work through setbacks if pursuing a
goal.
4. Cognition: Goals can lead individuals to develop and change their behavior.

People perform better when they are committed to achieving certain goals. Through an
understanding of the effect of goal setting on individual performance, organizations are able
to use goal setting to benefit organizational performance. Locke and Latham (2002) have
indicated three moderators that indicate goal setting success:[9]

1. The importance of the expected outcomes of goal attainment, and

2. Self-efficacy—one's belief that they are able to achieve the goals, and
3. Commitment to others—promises or engagements to others can strongly improve
commitment.

Expanding the three from above, the level of commitment is influenced by external factors.
Such as the person assigning the goal, setting the standard for the person to achieve/perform.
This influences the level of commitment by how compliant the individual is with the one
assigning the goal. An external factor can also be the role models of the individual. Say if
they strive to be like their favorite athlete, the individual is more likely to put forth more
effort to their own work and goals.

Internal factors can derive from their participation level in the work to achieve the goal. What
they expect from themselves can either flourish their success, or destroy it. Also, the
individual may want to appear superior to their peers or competitors. They want to achieve
the goal the best and be known for it. The self-reward of accomplishing a goal, is usually one
of the main keys that keep individuals committed.

The definition of goal setting is the process of identifying something that you want to
accomplish and establishing measurable goals and timeframes.

1. When you decide on a financial change to save more money and then set a certain
amount to save each month, this is an example of goal setting.
2. When a team of people on a school board have a shared aim to improve education and
set goals for budgets and test scores, this is an example of goal setting.

COPING WITH PRESSURE AND STANDING STRONG

Pressure is an everyday part of our working lives. Philosopher Thomas Carlyle said, "No
pressure, no diamonds," suggesting that, in manageable doses, it can energize and motivate
you to perform and achieve. Too much of it, however, can tip the balance the other way. The
trick to making pressure work for you, and not against you, is to find the "sweet spot"
between having too little and too much of it.

 Coping is the process of spending mental, conscious energy on dealing with problems
in life. Mechanisms used to cope with stress attempt to overcome or diminish the
amount of stress experienced.
 Coping mechanisms can be categorized into three broad types: appraisal -focused,
which affects thought associated with the stressor; problem-focused, which affects the
stressor itself; and emotion -focused, which affects the feelings associated with the
stressor.
 Coping strategies can be either positive or negative. Positive or adaptive strategies
decrease the amount of stress perceived and experienced, while negative or
maladaptive strategies diminish symptoms of stress without addressing the real
problem or disorder.
  Coping ability varies to the extent that a person perceives a situation as stressful
(primary appraisal) and decides he/she has the necessary resources to deal with what
has been labeled stressful (secondary appraisal).
 Coping-strategy selection varies among people and populations based on situational,
sexual, personal, and cultural differences.

Build Good Coping Skills

How well — or how poorly — we get through a stressful situation depends a lot on us. How
we deal with stressful situations makes all the difference.

Here are some steps you can take to cope with a stressful situation.

1. Understand the Situation

 Take some time to think about the situation you're facing. Try to describe your situation in
a sentence or two. What's stressful about this situation for you right now? It can help to
write down your thoughts.
For example: My family just moved, so I switched to a new school in the middle of the year.
The stressful parts are not knowing anyone, missing my old friends, and dealing with all new
schoolwork.
 Notice and name the feelings you have about the situation. Accept your feelings — it's
understandable to feel the way you feel, given your situation. It can help to write down your
feelings, too.
For example: I feel lonely and sad because of missing old friends and my old school. I'm mad
that we had to move, especially now. I'm worried about keeping up in math and social
studies. I feel left out because I'm the new kid. I guess anyone would feel this way if they
were in my situation.
 Learn more. Learn all you can about the situation you're dealing with. This might include
reading about it, talking to others, or finding out what others in your situation have done
and what to expect. Learning helps you feel more confident and prepared — plus it reminds
you that you're not the only one who has gone through this.


Here, we look at how to keep in control when pressure starts to weigh you down.

Where Does Pressure Come From?

There are two kinds of pressure – internal and external.

Internal pressures stem from pushing yourself too hard, or from worrying about your ability
to meet others' expectations of you and those that you have of yourself. You might drive
yourself to be your company's number one salesperson, for example, or doubt your ability

to perform at a speaking engagement.

External pressures come from the circumstances or the people around you – a micromanager,
for example, making you work in a certain way, or giving you a hefty workload that exceeds
your capacity to deal with it.

Some external pressures have little connection with your job, but the way you react to them
can negatively impact how you work. A long commute, illness, financial difficulties, family
responsibilities, bereavements, or a dangerous workplace can all weigh heavily on you and
affect how you behave.

In extreme cases, you may even feel pressured to take risks, to act against your values, or to
take part in illegal activities, such as "massaging" figures to reduce your organization's tax
bill. Read our article, When to Speak Up

, for advice on how best to handle these dangerous situations.

Measuring the Toll of Too Much Pressure

The idea that increasing pressure stimulates people to perform better and better, until an
optimum point is reached, dates back to 1908. Psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson
found that, when pressure exceeds this optimum point, it has the opposite effect and people's
performance starts to suffer. This conclusion still holds today.

The negative impact of pressure first shows with mild dissatisfaction and a minor
deterioration in the quality of a person's work. When the pressure becomes excessive, he or
she can succumb to stress, anxiety and unhappiness.

If the situation doesn't quickly improve, and the excessive pressure is prolonged, he runs the
risk of burning out

. Worse still, he could become physically ill or develop psychological and emotional issues
such as depression, or behavioral problems like aggressiveness

DECISION MAKING

Decision-making is an integral part of modern management. Essentially, Rational or sound

decision making is taken as primary function of management. Every manager takes hundreds
and hundreds of decisions subconsciously or consciously making it as the key component in
the role of a manager. Decisions play important roles as they determine both organizational
and managerial activities. A decision can be defined as a course of action purposely chosen
from a set of alternatives to achieve organizational or managerial objectives or goals.
Decision making process is continuous and indispensable component of managing any
organization or business activities. Decisions are made to sustain the activities of all business
activities and organizational functioning.

Decisions are made at every level of management to ensure organizational or business goals
are achieved. Further, the decisions make up one of core functional values that every
organization adopts and implements to ensure optimum growth and drivability in terms of
services and or products offered.
As such, decision making process can be further exemplified in the backdrop of the following
definitions.

Definition of Decision Making

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary the term decision making means -
the process of deciding about something important, especially in a group of people or in an
organization.

Trewatha & Newport defines decision making process as follows:, “Decision-making

involves the selection of a course of action from among two or more possible alternatives
in order to arrive at a solution for a given problem”

. A lot of time is consumed while decisions are taken. In a management setting, decision
cannot be taken abruptly. It should follow the steps such as

1. Defining the problem

2. Gathering information and collecting data
3. Developing and weighing the options
4. Choosing best possible option
5. Plan and execute
6. Take follow up action

Activity 1: To never depend my happiness on anyone but myself.

I have had so many backstabs in the short span of my life. Each took it’s toll on me. Broke
me. Cut me to pieces. Teared me. Stained my pillows with salty tears. Made me vengeful.
But eventually upholsted me. Maybe I’ll share my story someday, not today though :)

A year into the sadness I realized that the most wrong thing we ever do is invest time and
energy into people who will never be there for you. I have always been bad at figuring out
people. I love fixing broken people. I just don’t realize that while stitching them back, I
somehow cut myself through their brokenness. So let it all go. But don’t lose hope. Just don’t
invest into people expecting returns. That’s the sheer cause of disappointment.

Instead, be friendly and lovely, listen to people’s rant, rant back, love yourself and advice
them back. Just don’t depend on someone so much they you give them the power to break
you or ruin what you have. You are magical. You are broken and you are lovely. You’re
human!

Activity 2: To be a good friend and a good person, we'll behaved and respects everyone.

A spouse is supposed to be your best friend, your confidant. They will support you when you
are weak, protect you when you are in danger, among other things. I want a spouse that will
be by my side when I am eighty and we can just smile at the fond memories.

CRITICAL THINKING:
Critical thinking is one of the most sought after qualities that employers look for in job
candidates in almost any industry. Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information
objectively and make a reasoned judgment.

Read below for a list of critical thinking skills that employers are looking for in resumes,
cover letters, job applications, and interviews. Included is a detailed list of five of the most
important critical thinking skills, as well as an even longer list of critical thinking skills.

Also see below for information on how to demonstrate your critical thinking skills during
your job search.

Why Employers Value Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking involves the evaluation of sources such as data, facts, observable
phenomenon, and research findings. Good critical thinkers can draw reasonable conclusions
from a set of information and discriminate between useful and less useful details for solving a
problem or making a decision.

This is important for almost any job in any industry. Employers want job candidates who can
evaluate a situation using logical thought and come up with the best solution. Someone with
critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions on his or her own, and will not need
constant handholding.

Examples of critical thinking vary depending on the industry. For example, a triage nurse
would use critical thinking skills to analyze the cases at hand and decide the order in which
the patients should be treated.

A plumber would use critical thinking skills to evaluate which materials would best suit a
particular job. An attorney would review the evidence and use critical thinking to help devise
a strategy to win a case or to decide whether to settle out of court.

How to Use Skills Lists

If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listings you are applying for, you want to
emphasize your critical thinking skills throughout your job search.

Include this phrase and related terms in your resumes, cover letters, and interviews.

Firstly, you can use these critical thinking skill words in your resume. In the description of
your work history, you can use some of these key words. You can also include them in your
resume summary, if you have one.

Secondly, you can use these in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, you can mention
one or two of these skills, and give a specific example of a time when you demonstrated those
skills at work. Think about times when you had to analyze or evaluate materials to solve a
problem.

Finally, you can use these skill words in an interview. Be ready to mention a particular
problem or challenge at work, and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve the
issue. Try to use some of the keywords listed below in your answers to questions.
Some interviewers will even give you a hypothetical scenario or problem, and ask you to use
critical thinking skills to solve it. In this case, explain your thought process thoroughly to the
interviewer. He or she is typically more focused on how you arrive at your answer rather than
the answer itself. The interviewer wants to see you use analysis and evaluation (key parts of
critical thinking).

Of course, each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the
job description carefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employe

Skills

 Analytical
 Applying Standards
 Asking Thoughtful Questions
 Assessment
 Clarification
 Cognitive Flexibility
 Communication
 Conceptualization
 Creativity
 Curiosity
 Decision Making
 Embracing Different Cultural Perspectives
 Evaluation
 Explanation
 Foresight

H-M

 Identifying Patterns
 Imaginative
 Information Seeking
 Interpretation
 Judgment
 Logical Reasoning
 Making Abstract Connections
 Making Inferences

N-Z

 Objectivity
 Observation
 Open-Minded Thinking
 Predicting
 Presentation
 Problem Solving
 Questioning Evidence
 Reasoning
 Recognizing Differences and Similarities
 Reflection
  Skepticism
 Synthesizing

What is Creative Thinking?

Creative thinking means thinking about new things or thinking in new ways. It is “thinking
outside the box.” Often, creativity in this sense involves what is called lateral thinking, or the
ability to perceive patterns that are not obvious. The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes used
lateral thinking in one famous story when he realized that a dog not barking was an important
clue in a murder case.

Some people are naturally more creative than others, but creative thinking can be
strengthened with practice. You can practice creative thinking by solving riddles, by
becoming aware of and letting go of your assumptions, and through play—anything
unstructured and relaxing. Even daydreaming can help.

Creative people can devise new ways to carry out tasks, solve problems, and meet challenges.
They bring a fresh and sometimes unorthodox perspective to their work and can help
departments and organizations to move in more productive directions.

Benefits :

1. BECOME A BETTER PROBLEM SOLVER

There isn't a manual to being an artist, and there isn't a manual for being
alive. Obstacles and challenges throughout life are inevitable. However,
when we make creativity a habit, we continue to learn new, resourceful
ways of solving problems in our artwork, and in life.

2. CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

When we create, we connect to other people doing the same and an

instant sense of community is formed. Whether we're exchanging ideas,
providing feedback for our peers, or simply creating next to eachother in
silence, the sense of connection experienced as artists is undeniable and
deeply rewarding.

3. SAVE MONEY

Expressing ourselves can control the urge to buy impulsively. If we trade

the activity of consuming for creating, we not only save money, but get a
deeper sense of fulfillment. Additionally, the more we learn how to make
things ourselves, the less we need to spend money on buying them.

4. EXPANDED SENSE OF TIME

Countless artists have discussed the experience of timelessness that one

encounters in the creative zone. Time feels limitless when we are in the
creative ‘zone.’ Strangely enough, when we give ourselves time to creative
pursuits, we gain time. Who couldn’t use the feeling of more time?

5. SELF AWARENESS & EXPRESSION

Creativity is the route to authenticity. As we create, we plumb the depths of

our being, accessing what we think and believe. The more we create, the
more we discover and realize our habits, impulses, and desires. When we
take the time and energy to develop our own ideas, we respect our inner
nature and are better able to express ourselves to the world on a regular
basis.

6. FREEDOM

There is no right or wrong way to be an artist. When we create, we are

given the opportunity to engage with the world without judging ourselves.
We have permission to take risks, try new things, and strip away inhibitions
in a healthy way.

7. STRESS RELIEF

Making art is meditative. Taking the time to use our hands, minds, and
energy doing something we love is of uptmost importance in life. Being
creative makes us happy. Art is FUN, and doing anything that brings joy
reduces our stress levels and improves our quality of life. What could be
more important than that?