At Etiquette Moms, we do our best to go a bit further than other etiquette training certification firms to make etiquette relevant to the real world.

In today's newsletter, I'd like to share with you some research about a crucial topic that you can incorporate into your etiquette trainings.

If you are not already signed up with one of our Etiquette Trainer Certification programs, please sign up now at http://www.etiquettemoms.com. That way you get access to a full curriculum of relevant, powerful, practical etiquette training programs.

Here is some research about repairing a broken friendship, or perhaps family relationship:

- First, realize that a friendship is a process that changes with time. Sometimes a friendship is
strong and close, sometimes it is strong but without each person being in close contact, and sometimes it needs repair.

- Second, forgiveness is important and healthy. Psychologist Frederic Luskin of the Forgiveness 
Project at Stanford University, notes that forgiving others has strong mental and physical benefits. Forgiveness lowers blood pressure, reduces feelings of depression, and has positive effects on our nervous system.

- Third, be willing to apologize. Don't wrap your ego up in what happened. Think of the bigger picture and don't try to be right.

- Fourth, ask your friend about how he or she feels about the situation. Listen, without
judging. Be willing to ask what you did that hurt the relationship -- and be willing to apologize for what happened, without getting defensive.

- Sometimes it is best to act immediately, and sometimes there needs to be a cool down period. However, during any lapse in the relationship, don't convince yourself that you are right and
the other person is wrong. Don't try to turn the other person into some sort of bad person. Instead, work to understand how your friend feels and perceives the situation. Step into his or her shoes.

- Recognize and take responsibility for your role in the conflict. Be willing to be the one who listens, mediates the conflict, and helps to heal the situation -- but without having a superior attitude about taking this role.

- Think about the things you really appreciate about your friend.

- If you need to vent, don't do it to your friend. Do it with someone who is neutral.

- If your friend is not ready to repair the relationship, be patient. Invite him or her to work with you when he/she is ready.

A final rule of thumb: If in doubt about what to do, it never hurts to be the one who makes the effort to reconcile. The upside is you get your friend back. The only downside is that you know you have done all you can to repair an important relationship.

I sincerely hope you found value in this issue of the Etiquette Moms Newsletter, and I invite you to join us.