How to Establish a Romantic Relationship

• Many people hesitate to propose a romantic relationship because they don't know the other person well or because the other person is a friend or work acquaintance, and they aren't sure that the other person is interested in a romantic relationship.
  
  Both men and women give nonverbal signs, many of which are similar, according to Tracey Cox, author of "Superflirt," and Matthew Fitzgerald, relationship correspondent for the AskMen.com website. For instance, both men and women will lean closer to someone they are romantically interested in. Both men and women will touch someone they are interested in; women may lightly touch the person's forearm, while men often "guide" the other person by touching the small of the back while they are walking together.
  
  Once the signals are fairly clear that there is mutual romantic interest, it's time to make a move. Relationship expert David Wygant advises men to follow up with a woman, to make that call and set a date, rather than worrying about whether to wait 24 hours or 72 hours in order to avoid appearing overeager. Deanna Frazier, author of "Dating 101, The Second, Third, or Fourth Time Around," advises women to encourage men to ask them out. However, it is perfectly fine for a woman to ask out a man, especially on a low-pressure date where they get the chance to get to know one another and generate mutual interest in spending more time together.
  
  Establishing a relationship requires taking an assertive approach for both men and women, although the approaches differ for each gender. Psychologists Rosanna Guadagno and Robert Cialdini, cited on the One India website, found that women responded more positively to face-to-face communication. On the other hand, Guadagno and Ciadini found that men respond just as well to an email message as to a face-to-face encounter.
  
  AskMen.com correspondent Andre Cross recommends that men set a romantic mood with flowers, music and wine to inspire a woman's romantic feelings. Cosmopolitan magazine writer Greg Gutfield suggests that a woman who wants to know where she stands should act as if the relationship already has been established and take on the role of a girlfriend. As an alternative, Gutfield suggests that a woman should make a move, such as taking a new job, to suggest that the man might lose her if he doesn't step up. The goal is not to trick a man into a relationship, but to inspire him to have "The Talk" that establishes the two of you as a couple.
  
  Once you're together, it's important to spend time together in order to establish your status as a couple. Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., author of "Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love," states that relationships do not "just happen" without effort; it takes determined effort to establish and maintain a romantic connection. She recommends couples schedule regular alone time without work, kids, TV or any other distractions to establish and maintain romantic ties.