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Relationships are essential for our well-being and happiness. At home, just like at work, they provide us with support, companionship, love, and joy. They also help us grow as individuals and learn from each other. Relationships can be with family, friends, partners, colleagues, or anyone who matters to us.  But how to build significant and meaningful relationships?

Research has shown that people who have strong and meaningful relationships tend to be happier than those who are isolated or lonely. Relationships can enhance our happiness by providing us with emotional support, social connection, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging. They can also help us cope with stress, overcome difficulties, and achieve our goals.

However, relationships are not always easy or smooth. They require effort, commitment, compromise, respect and a set of human skills, such as those linked to emotional intelligence.

What is emotional intelligence and why it matters

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others. It can help you build trust, empathy, and rapport with the people in your life, whether they are your family, friends, colleagues, or customers.

Here are 5 tips on how to use EI to improve your relationships:

1. Be aware of your own emotions and how they affect your behaviour.

Learn to recognize the triggers that make you angry, sad, happy, or anxious, and how they influence your communication style, body language, and tone of voice. Try to avoid reacting impulsively or defensively when you are feeling emotional. Instead take a moment to calm yourself and think more rationally.

2. Be attentive and empathetic to the emotions of others.

Listen actively and respectfully to what they are saying, and try to understand their perspective, feelings, and needs. Avoid judging, criticizing, or interrupting them. Instead show genuine interest and curiosity. Use open-ended questions, paraphrasing, and reflecting to clarify and confirm what you heard.

3. Express your emotions appropriately and constructively.

Share your thoughts and feelings honestly and respectfully, using “I” statements instead of blaming or accusing others. For example, instead of saying “You always make me feel bad,” say, “I feel hurt when you say that.” Use positive and supportive language, and make an effort to avoid sarcasm, insults, or threats. Give constructive feedback and praise when appropriate and acknowledge your mistakes and apologize when necessary.

4. Manage conflicts and disagreements effectively.

Rather than avoiding or escalating conflicts, try to resolve them respectfully and collaboratively. Identify the root cause of the problem and focus on finding a solution that works for both parties. Make an effort not to take things personally or make assumptions about the other person’s intentions, but rather try to understand their point of view and respect their differences. Use assertive communication skills, such as stating your needs clearly, setting boundaries, and compromising when possible.

5. Build rapport and trust with others.

Show genuine interest and appreciation for the other person and try to find common ground and shared values. Use humour, compliments, and gestures to create a positive atmosphere and break the ice. Be consistent and reliable in your words and actions and follow through on your promises and commitments. Be honest and transparent in your communication and refrain from lying or withholding information.

Emotional intelligence is not a fixed trait that we are born with or without. It is a dynamic social and emotional skill set that can be measured and developed over time. By enhancing our emotional intelligence, we – you, employees, managers, leaders, teams, businesses, and organizations – can improve our well-being, performance, and relationships in all areas of life, including work!

Wishing you a summer rich in human connections.

Mélanie & team Alievo®

© This entry was written by Mélanie Lacroix and published on the blog of Alievo™. The content is relevant to you? You wish to share it? Please do so by citing its source and redirecting to this page!

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We are Alievo™ and our mission is to help people in communities, businesses and government entities develop their human skills.

Alievo™ is the only intrinsically bilingual (English and French) institute in Canada’s professional development industry that aims to bridge human skills deficits within teams and organizations.

More than ever, the future of work will require us to be socially, emotionally and culturally intelligent. Are you ready and equipped to meet this challenge?

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