Over the years, I've received a lot of advice from friends and family, trained professionals and books on how to get along with others and build strong relationships. Most of it is insightful（有见地的） and effective but when I'm caught up in the moment, I find it hard to apply what I've learned. This is especially true when it involves a multi-step process.

After analyzing many methods and experimenting in my own interactions（交流）, I've found one simple guideline that has helped me strengthen every one of my interpersonal relationships. This simple easy-to-remember tip is: Make the other person feel important.

No one likes to feel small and most conflicts（冲突）occur when you make others feel unimportant whether you plan to or not. The key to getting along with almost anyone is to avoid actions that diminish others and replace them with actions that build up others. Actually,you can strengthen your relationships with many actions.

When you interact with someone, give him your undivided attention. Don't look around to see what else is going on or check your phone or watch. Take time to listen and respond  accordingly to show  you're engaged. Make the other person feel like he is the most important person you’re meeting with.

Nothing will make someone light up more brightly than showing genuine interest in him. Be curious and ask specific questions based on what you hear. The more questions you ask, the better the interaction will go but keep in mind that you must be sincere. If you try to fake it, people can tell.

When it is possible,show that you consider the other person remarkable. Find opportunities to speak highly of this person to others as often as you honestly can. One trap to avoid is making others feel  more important by putting yourself down. This is never helpful so it's important that you lift others up in a way that respects everyone including you.

   How can I forget the day？On 14 July 1974 I travelled in an overcrowded bus to an unheard town called Shendurni. The next day，I was to join the department of a junior college there. _______ about my new job，but anxious and fearful too，I was out of my ________ zone. Around 7 p.m.it started pouring with rain. Wondering about my new career in an unknown land，I had _________ in my seat. I woke up with a（n）_______ to the sound of the conductor announcing（宣告）the name of my bus stop. I looked out. It was pitch-dark. Ah，a power cut. _________ was unusual during heavy rains. "Conductor Sahab，can I get some _________ for myself here？I'm new to the place，"I heard myself ask _______."Arme bhai，get off my bus and let us go. We _______ to reach the next station on time. Get yourself a place to stay. "he shouted back. In increasing panic，I felt a ______ tap on my shoulder. As I looked back，a warm smile ________ me. "I'm Sawant，from the next town. The bus _______ there for the night and returns tomorrow morning. You can spend the night at my place，and join work tomorrow. "I thanked him from my heart and accepted his ________ .He and his wife took great _________ to make my stay comfortable. I was ________ with warm water for a bath，followed by a hot _________ and a comfortable bed. I was up early the next morning and Mr Sawant came to __________ me off. I could nol see his face clearly，as it was ________ dark. I made it ________ the college in time and taught there for almost 11 years. I still ________ him，even asking my new friends and students to help find the kind soul. But Mr Sawant remained ________ .Perhaps I had got his name wrong. My only regret was that I could not thank him again.

   I am Peter Hodes, a volunteer stem courier. Since March 2012, I've done 89 trips of those , 51 have been abroad, I have 42 hours to carry stem cells（干细胞）in my little box because I've got two ice packs and that's how long they last, in all, from the time the stem cells are harvested from a donor(捐献者) to the time they can be implanted in the patient, we’ve got 72 hours at most, So I am always conscious of time.

I had one trip last year where I was caught by a hurricane in America. I picked up the stem cells in Providence, Rhode Island, and was meant to fly to Washington then back to London. But when I arrived at the check-in desk at Providence, the lady on the desk said: “Well, I’m really sorry, I’ve got some bad news for you-there are no fights from Washington.” So I took my box and put it on the desk and I said: “In this box are some stem cells that are urgently needed for a patient-please, please, you’ve got to get me back to the United Kingdom.” She just dropped everything. She arranged for a flight on a small  plane to be held for mere-routed(改道)me through Newark and got me back to the UK even earlier than originally scheduled.

For this courier job, you’re consciously aware than that box you’re got something that is potentially going to save somebody’s life.