Don't ever make a promise that you can't keep–or at least don't make a habit of it. If you say you'll hang out with a friend and a legitimate conflict arises, explain the situation. If you promised a friend something important, keep your promise and don't risk the loss of a friend. When you make a serious promise, look at your friend in the eyes and speak slowly to show that you mean it instead of just saying it because you think that you should. Do not break any such promise, as that will hurt your friend. It might even break your friendship!
Being dependable is one of the most important aspects of being a good friend. Your friend will need you for support, especially in hard times. Nobody wants to be friends with someone who actually isn't interested in them. It's hard to rely on a person who doesn't behave in a consistent and trustworthy way. Your friends should always feel like they can count on you, even when the going gets tough. If you're only there for the fun times, you'll be no more than a fair-weather friend.
If you know you've made a mistake, own up to it instead of being in denial. Though your friends won't be happy that you made a mistake, they'll be very pleased that you're mature and grounded enough to admit it instead of just pretending that nothing is wrong, or worse -- blaming it on someone else. You should also mean it, take the time to explain to your friend the misunderstanding or how you feel bad and want to fix your relationship.
If you're honest about how you feel and allow yourself to be vulnerable with your feelings, that will open up direct lines of communication with your friends and will make them more likely to open up to you. If your friend hurt you, don't be afraid to talk about it; if something is upsetting you, don't feel too shy to open up to your friend about it. Being honest is different from being so blunt that you're hurting your friends. If you think your friend has a drinking problem, for example, then you owe it to your friend to start a conversation about it. But if you think your friend looks kind of weird in her new dress, you may want to keep your mouth shut.
When a friend shares something that you find objectionable or simply so not agree with their opinion, it’s okay to say so! Let your friend know what you think and why. If you start to feel upset, take a moment to notice these feelings and any physical response you are having as well. It is normal to feel angry, but it will be much easier to respond in a respectful way if you calm yourself down first.
Good friendships don't arise from hoping someone else's popularity or networks will rub off on you. If you're trying to be friends with a person just to get into a certain clique, that's not friendship – it's opportunism – and eventually, the shallow nature of your involvement will reveal itself. A friendship is about giving and taking. Sure, it may be convenient that one of your friends gives you a ride to school every day, but make sure that you do something for that friend in return.
Don't discuss your friend behind their back, and don't spread rumors about the confidences they've imparted to you. Never say anything about your friend that you would not be prepared to repeat to their face. Don't let others say bad things about your friend, either. Until you've had a chance to hear your friend's side of the story, treat comments that are not supportive as hearsay and rumors. If someone says something that shocks you and doesn't seem like a thing your friend would do or say, then respond with something like, "I know them, and that doesn't sound right. Let me talk to them; find out their perspective on this. Until then, I would appreciate it if you didn't spread that around."
Good friends show respect for each other by being openly and mutually supportive. If your friend has certain values and beliefs that don't align with your own, respect their choices and be open to hearing more about them. Sometimes your friend will say things that you find boring, uncomfortable or annoying, but if you have respect for your friend, you'll give your friend the space to speak, and to do so without judgment.
If you sense that your friend is getting into some sort of trouble over which they have little control, such as taking drugs, being promiscuous, or getting too drunk at a party, help him or her get away from the situation by not being afraid to speak up about it. Let your friend know that you can give him a shoulder to cry on during this tough time. If your friend feels less alone, it'll be easier for them to deal with their troubles. If all your friend wants to do about the problem is to talk, that's fine at first, but you should help your friend find practical solutions to his problems.
If your friend has to go to the hospital, visit. If their dog runs away, help to find it. If they need someone to pick them up, be there. Take notes for your friend in school when they're absent. Just make sure that your friend isn't always in the middle of some kind of crisis, however contrived it may be. You should be there to help out during the hard times, but that can't be the basis of your whole relationship. If your friend begins talking about committing suicide or hurting other people, tell someone about it. This rule overrides the "respect privacy" step, because even if your friend begs you not to tell anyone, you should do it anyway.