Creating connections with others

Creating connections

Sometimes it can be difficult to make new connections. If you don’t know someone well, it can be hard to get a conversation going.

Here are some steps you can take to help making new connections easier for you.

When you make a new connection, think about how it makes you feel and what you can now do to make more connections.

Making contact with organisations

We all have to contact organisations such as the Council, a GP's surgery, a workplace or the Red Cross sometimes. Calling or writing to someone you don’t know can be hard. However, it is like making a new connection.

Look at steps 1-4 on the section above called 'Making new connections'. How can you do the same when you are contacting an organisation?  Make a list of the people and other resources you have that can help.

Follow these steps:

• Gather up any information you will need and have it next to you – letters, facts, phone numbers. This makes you fully prepared for your call or letter.
• Plan what you are going to say in advance: you can write it down, for example: How do you think this will help you be confident?
• Remember to stay calm.
  Be factual and polite, so you stay in control.
• Take a note of what you have said. That way you can go back to it if you need to.

More resources you might find useful

The British Red Cross has created a range of resources for building confidence and connecting with others. You can find out more about the project or click the links below to get started.

Make connections

• Make and share more connections
• Pass on your knowledge and skills

Build coping skills

• Coping with stress
• Using Circles of control
• Making the most of your resources