Simply having a relationship with your students will help them perform better.  Several factors were examined when doing the research, but the relationship aspect stood out more than any others.  The authors point to several behaviors teachers can exhibit to improve relationships with their children:

Increase warm, positive interactions with students
Be well prepared for class and hold high expectations
Be responsive to students' agendas by providing choices
Use reasoning rather than coercive discipline that damages relationships
Help students be kind, helpful and accepting of one another
Implement interventions for difficult relations with specific student

I am guessing some of you already do the things on this list