How to improve your friend group

MUW Team

// July 4, 2023

Growth mindset

Introduction

We’ve all been there: You start out with a group of friends that you get along with really well, and then one day, everything changes. People drift apart or conflict arises. But that doesn’t mean that your friendship needs to end! If you’re willing to put in some effort, you can improve any relationship over time—including yours. Here are some ways how:

Set clear expectations and boundaries.

Set clear expectations and boundaries.
Communicate with your friends on a regular basis.
Be honest with them about what you need from them and when, but also be open to hearing their needs as well.

Make sure everyone is in the same place emotionally and mentally.

If you have a friend group with people who are in different places emotionally and mentally, it can be difficult to get everyone on board with the same vision for your group.

If you’re trying to improve your friend group but one person is holding everyone back and not willing to work with you, then it’s probably time for them to go.

Include everyone in activities.

The first step in improving your friend group is to make sure everyone feels included. You don’t want any member of your squad to feel left out, so make sure you’re including everyone in activities. If someone doesn’t like sports but loves board games, suggest going out for drinks after work instead of heading straight to the gym for basketball practice. If one of your friends has anxiety about meeting new people and would rather stay at home than go out on Friday night, invite him or her over for dinner with just the two of you instead (and if possible, ask another friend who knows how sensitive this person can be).

Don’t call each other names or be mean to each other, even in jest.

This is a big one for me because I’ve seen friends do this and it always ends up badly. Calling someone a name is not cool, no matter how much you think it’s funny or they’ll laugh off the insult. It might seem like harmless fun at the time, but it can quickly escalate into something that creates conflict between everyone involved. You should never call your friends names–or make fun of them or make them feel bad about themselves–even if they’re doing something silly or embarrassing (like falling down). If you have an issue with someone’s behavior, talk about it privately with them later on so everyone else doesn’t have to hear about it!

Communicate openly and honestly about your feelings, especially when it comes to conflict resolution.

When conflict arises, it’s important to communicate openly and honestly about your feelings. Be sure that you are able to identify what is causing the conflict–and if there is more than one cause, try to figure out which one is most important. Then, talk through possible solutions together until you find one that works for both parties. If this doesn’t work at first, keep trying until everyone feels heard and understood (even if they don’t agree with each other).

Encourage each other to grow as individuals; avoid comparison and competition with one another.

It’s natural for you and your friends to want to improve yourselves, but it can be difficult for some people to see the value in making positive changes when they feel like they’re already doing enough. If this is true for one of your friends, encourage him or her by reminding them how important it is for everyone in the group to grow as individuals. You might say something like: “I know it seems like we’re doing fine now, but if we don’t continue learning new things about ourselves and pushing our boundaries, then eventually, we’ll all hit a wall.”

Offer constructive feedback when someone does something that bothers you or makes you uncomfortable.

When someone does something that bothers you or makes you uncomfortable, don’t just ignore it. It may be easier to pretend nothing happened, but if you do this, the same thing will keep happening again and again until someone points out how problematic it is. Instead of taking the easy route and staying silent, try offering constructive feedback in a non-judgmental way when possible.

For example: “I wasn’t thrilled when [friend] said [something that made me uncomfortable]. I’d love to talk about why it bothered me so much.”

Reward positive behavior; don’t forget about “catching people doing good” and celebrating achievements together.

As a group, you should reward positive behavior and celebrate achievements together.

This is another way to build your friend group’s sense of community–and it’s also an effective way to get people who don’t know each other very well to talk! If you have an event coming up that requires some extra effort from everyone, like organizing a potluck or planning a trip somewhere fun, consider making it a contest where the winner gets something special (like bragging rights).

Friendships require an effort but are worth it

Friendships are like a garden. They require time, effort, and patience to grow. You can’t expect your friends to be there when you need them if you haven’t been there for them in the past. However, once you make an effort to cultivate your friendships and show that you care about them, they will respond by reciprocating with the same level of commitment.

This doesn’t mean that all friendships require equal amounts of time or energy; some people are naturally more invested in their friendships than others–and that’s fine! Just remember that even if your friend isn’t as invested as others may be in their friendship with someone else (or even with everyone), it doesn’t mean they don’t care about this person or want them around; it just means they don’t prioritize spending time together as much as others do.

Set clear expectations for your friend group.

Set clear expectations for your friend group.
Be honest with yourself and others about what you want from the relationship, and make sure that everyone in the group agrees on those expectations. If there are things that are important to you, like always having dinner together once a week or going on regular hikes, say so upfront so that no one feels surprised later when they discover it’s not happening anymore (or worse yet–that they’ve been excluded).

Make friends with people you have things in common with.

It’s always nice to be able to talk about your favorite TV show or band, but it’s even better when that person watches the same show as you or listens to the same band! If someone shares your interests, then there’s a good chance that they’ll be more fun than someone who doesn’t.

Choose a diverse group of friends.

One of the best ways to improve your friend group is by choosing a diverse group of friends. This can mean having friends from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and gender identities who bring different perspectives into your life. It also means making sure that you’re not just hanging out with people who think exactly like you do–you want to surround yourself with people who challenge you mentally and encourage growth in the way they interact with others.

It’s important that we have diverse groups of friends and how much time we spend with each one individually so that no one person becomes overexposed or neglected because they’re too familiar or unfamiliar.

Be honest about the way you feel with your friends, and put in the work to make things better when they’re not going well.

The best way to make sure that your friend group is healthy and happy is by being honest about the way you feel with your friends and putting in the work to make things better when they’re not going well. If a member of your friend group has done something hurtful or disrespectful, let them know how it made you feel–but don’t do so out of anger or resentment; instead, try approaching the conversation from a place of understanding and compassion. This will help both parties understand each other’s perspective more clearly, as well as provide an opportunity for growth on both sides.

Don’t take your friends for granted.

Another way to improve your friend group is by not taking them for granted. You should never take a friend for granted, but it’s especially important not to do so when they are trying their best and doing things for you. If someone buys you a gift or does something nice for you, acknowledge that they have noticed that there’s something going on in your life and appreciate their gesture. It will mean a lot!

Find ways to support each other when it’s tough.

As you get older, your friends will go through more things that are difficult. You may experience a breakup or a death in the family, or maybe you’ll just have an awful week at work. It’s important to support each other when these events happen so that you can feel less alone and more connected during tough times.

Here are some ways to do that:

Offer a listening ear when someone needs one. If someone is going through something hard, don’t give advice unless they ask for it–just sit down with them and listen to what they have to say without judgment or interruption! It doesn’t matter if this person is a close friend or not; everyone deserves empathy sometimes!
Stay positive even if things aren’t great right now–it helps others see hope too! Be careful not let negativity spiral out of control, though; sometimes we all need time away from people who make us feel bad about ourselves instead of trying harder at being supportive because we don’t want anyone else feeling alone either (like me).

A quality friendship takes time and effort to maintain, but the benefits can last a lifetime

A quality friendship takes time and effort to maintain, but the benefits can last a lifetime.

Here are some tips to help you improve your friend group:

Set up regular hangouts. You can do this by creating a calendar event or using an app like Meetup, which allows people with similar interests to connect in real life. The point is that you make it easier for your friends to see each other, so they don’t have an excuse not to hang out when they’re all available at once!
Don’t be afraid of conflict resolution tools like mediation or arbitration if things get heated between two members of your group–this will only strengthen your bond as friends who know how important communication is when resolving differences between each other!

Ask for what you need.

Friend groups are a wonderful thing. They’re an opportunity to meet new people, form new connections and create memories that will last a lifetime. But sometimes, it can be difficult to fit in with an existing friend group. It might seem like you’re always the one who gets left out or forgotten about when it comes to plans, but there are things you can do if this happens often–and they don’t involve changing who you are!

The first step is asking what you need from your friends: Do they want more time alone? Should they invite more people into their lives? Are there any other problems that could be solved by making some changes within their current dynamic as a group? By taking the initiative and putting these questions out there (in a kind way), everyone involved will benefit from clearer communication about what everyone wants from each other and how best to get those needs met moving forward.

Don’t be afraid to go it alone.

One of the dangers of having a large group of friends is that you can feel like you don’t belong. When everyone else seems to have their ducks in a row, and life is going smoothly, it’s easy to feel like an outsider. The truth is that none of us have all our ducks in a row; we’re all struggling through life just as much as anyone else. But when you have one or two close friends who understand what it feels like to be different from the crowd, they can help keep things in perspective by reminding us how important our individual struggles are–and why they’re worth fighting for.

One way I’ve learned this lesson over time is through my experience playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). In D&D games, there are often moments where players must make decisions about whether or not their characters will act on their principles, even if doing so means losing out on something important: money or status among other players’ characters, favor with some non-player character (“NPC”) who holds power over them; even life itself! These choices require courage because making them involves taking risks–but often those risks pay off big time down the line when other characters realize how bravely someone acted under pressure!

Don’t keep score.

You don’t have to be at the top of every friend group game, and you shouldn’t feel like you need to win every time. If everyone’s having fun and enjoying themselves, that’s what matters most.

It’s okay to be different from your friends.

If you’re the only one who likes black metal and everyone else listens to Taylor Swift, that’s fine. You don’t need to try and change your tastes just because they do; if you like what you like, then don’t feel guilty about it!

Be a good listener, not just a talker.

Listening is an important skill to have, and it’s not as easy as it sounds. It takes practice to be a good listener, but once you get the hang of it, your friends will appreciate your efforts and feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts with you.

Here are some tips for becoming an active listener:

Don’t interrupt when someone else is talking or finish their sentences for them. This can come off as rude and show that you aren’t interested in what they have to say–a big no-no! Instead, wait until they’re finished speaking before responding with your own thoughts on the matter or asking questions about what was said (as long as this doesn’t interrupt them again).
Stay present during conversations instead of thinking about other things like homework assignments or work meetings later in the day/weekend/etcetera. This will help keep both parties focused on one topic at a time so nothing gets lost in translation between parties involved in the conversation; plus it gives each person involved ample opportunity to share their opinion without feeling rushed into doing so before others have had a chance share theirs first!

You can make positive changes in your group of friends by being open to new ideas, communicating clearly, and supporting each other’s goals and dreams.

Be open to new ideas.
Communicate clearly.
Support each other’s goals and dreams.

Make a list of your friends.

When you’re making a list of your friends, it’s important to remember that not everyone has the same definition of friendship. For example, your best friend might be someone who has known you for years and knows all about your personal life. But if this person isn’t willing or able to help out with some of the more mundane tasks in life (like picking up groceries), then maybe they aren’t really a good fit for your friend group after all.
When making these lists, try not to get too caught up in specifics like age or gender–instead, focus on personality traits that will lead them toward being helpful members of society!

Notice the qualities that make you want to be with someone.

Notice the qualities that make you want to be with someone.
Ask yourself what makes a person interesting, funny, or smart in your eyes.
Think about what it is about them that makes them stand out from everyone else in your group of friends.

Be honest about why you want to improve your friend group.

Before you get started on your new friend group, it’s important, to be honest about why you want to improve your friend group. That way, if your motivations aren’t aligned with the goals of the project, then it can be stopped before any real damage is done.

For example: If one of your main reasons for wanting a better friend group is because some people in it don’t like each other or don’t get along well (and thus cause drama), then this isn’t something that can be solved through changing the composition of a said group–it would require everyone involved having different personalities and being willing to change those personalities accordingly. So while improving the overall quality of friends within an existing group may help reduce any potential conflicts between them down the line as well as improve communication between members who don’t know each other very well yet (or at all!), there are limits on what can realistically be accomplished by altering membership alone; ultimately what matters most is whether or not those involved have similar values/interests/goals etc..

Acknowledge how important friendship is to you.

This is the first step to improving your friend group. Acknowledge how important friendship is to you, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If you’re in a situation where people aren’t making an effort, take it upon yourself to reach out and make something happen!

Understand what makes a good friend.

The first step to improving your friend group is understanding what makes a good friend.

A good friend is someone who is there for you when they say they will be and doesn’t take advantage of your kindness. They listen to all of your problems without judgment, even if it means listening to them complain about their ex-girlfriend again (we all have one). A good friend also understands that sometimes all you need is some time alone and doesn’t try to guilt trip you into hanging out with them just because “you haven’t seen each other in ages.”

If this sounds like the type of person who already has tons of friends, then congratulations! You’re already ahead of the game. If not? Don’t worry–there are still things we can do as individuals within our own social circles to improve our friendships and make ourselves better friends overall.

Look at how much time you spend with each person in your group.

Look at how much time you spend with each person in your group.
Ask yourself if it’s enough. If not, ask them if they want to spend more time together.

Assess how often you talk to each person in your group.

It’s important to make sure that everyone is getting their fair share of time with you, so be sure to keep track of your conversations with each friend over a week or so. If there are some people who don’t seem as engaged in the group dynamic, then it might be time for them to move along and let someone else take their place.

Recognize that your relationships are evolving all the time, just like yours will too.

You may have been friends for years and then drifted apart, or you might have been close to someone in high school and then lost touch when they went away to college. But as long as there’s an open line of communication between you and your friends, there’s no reason why you can’t reconnect at any point!

You can improve any relationship if you make it a priority, acknowledge what’s working, and address what isn’t working when necessary

To improve any relationship, you have to put in the work. You can’t expect things to magically get better on their own. But the good news is that making an effort will pay off–and it’s not as hard as you think!

There are many ways that people can improve their friendships: by being more supportive when someone needs it; by stepping up or down from certain roles within a friendship group (like being the leader or follower); and by communicating openly about what they want from each other.

Ask yourself why you want to improve your friend group.

Before you even think about improving your friend group, it’s important to ask yourself why you want to improve it. Do you feel like there are some people in your life who could be better friends? Are there other people who don’t fit into the group that are keeping it from being what you want? Or perhaps there is someone in particular that has been on your mind lately, and this is the first time it’s occurred to you that maybe they should be part of your circle but aren’t because of some reason or another.

If any of these questions apply to you, then chances are good that improving your friend group will help solve whatever issue(s) with friendship(s) have been bothering you lately!

Create a list of the qualities you want in a friend.

You should start by listing the qualities you want in a friend. This can be anything from “must have a great sense of humor” and “must be kind” to “must love Netflix.” Once you’ve got your list, think about which people in your life fit that mold. Then, talk with them! Let them know why they’re such great friends and how much they mean to you–and ask them what they like about having such an awesome pal like yourself around too!

Find ways to make yourself more approachable and easy to talk to.

Make eye contact. If you’re shy, this can be hard at first, but it’s important for breaking the ice with people and building rapport with them.
Smile! Smiling makes you look friendly and approachable (and also makes others feel good).
Don’t be afraid of silence–it’s okay if there’s a lull in conversation sometimes! Just try not to let it go on too long; otherwise, people might think that something is wrong with you or your friend group as a whole.

Read, watch, and listen to things that will help you be a better friend.

You can improve your friend group by reading, watching, and listening to things that will help you be a better friend.

Here are some books that might help:

“How To Be A Good Friend” by Amy Alkon (and others)
“How To Be An Awesome Friend” by Todd Kashdan and Robert Biswas-Diener

Look out for people who might need your help or support, and offer it when possible.

In the spirit of “it takes a village,” look out for your friends and be willing to offer them a helping hand when they need it.

You can improve your friendships if you are willing to put in the effort over time.

It’s not easy to maintain good friendships, but it can be done. If you have suffered from loneliness or depression and want to make new friends, there are several things that you should do:

Find a club or activity that interests you and try it out! You might meet some people through this activity who share similar interests with you and become good friends with them. Or maybe even just one other person who becomes your friend because they share similar interests with another member of their group who is not as shy around strangers like yourself (and thus makes introductions easier).
Go out often with the intention of meeting new people instead of just hanging out with old ones all the time–it’ll help keep things fresh!

Conclusion

The best way to improve your friend group is by being open to new ideas, communicating clearly, and supporting each other’s goals and dreams. This means that you need to be willing to put in some time and effort over time, but the benefits will last a lifetime.