Relationship Management Skills

Quick reference

• 00:04 Welcome back, in this lesson, we're focusing on relationship management.
• 00:09 In our previous lessons, we covered the other core components of emotional
• 00:13 intelligence, including self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness.
• 00:18 Relationship management builds on those other skills and
• 00:22 it revolves around your ability to successfully manage interactions at work.
• 00:27 So let's talk about how you can improve your professional relationships and
• 00:31 how these four components of EI all come together.
• 00:35 Effective communication is the cornerstone of good relationship management.
• 00:40 Involves clearly conveying your ideas and also listening actively to others.
• 00:46 Here's how you can improve your communication.
• 00:49 First, be clear and concise when sharing information or feedback,
• 00:54 be direct and straightforward to avoid misunderstandings.
• 00:59 Practice active listening, show genuine interest in what others are saying
• 01:04 by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and asking clarifying questions.
• 01:09 This helps you understand the other person better, and
• 01:13 it also makes them feel valued and heard.
• 01:16 And adapt your communication style,
• 01:18 some of your colleagues might respond well to data-based evidence,
• 01:23 while others may appreciate a clear list of steps to follow.
• 01:27 The idea here is to adjust your communication style to
• 01:31 suit the listener's preferences and the situation.
• 01:34 If you understand your audience, you'll know how to deliver the information so
• 01:40 it's understood and the right actions are taken.
• 01:44 Strong professional relationships are built on trust, respect, and
• 01:49 mutual understanding.
• 01:51 So when it comes to strengthening your connections, consider the following.
• 01:55 First, be reliable, be someone that your colleagues and clients can rely on.
• 02:01 Deliver on your promises and maintain professionalism in all interactions,
• 02:06 this will build trust over time.
• 02:09 And show appreciation, acknowledge the efforts and
• 02:12 contributions of others and do this consistently.
• 02:16 For example, a simple thank you can really mean a lot to some people,
• 02:19 showing appreciation can go a long way in building positive relationships.
• 02:24 And keep engaging, don't limit interactions to email or formal meetings.
• 02:30 Casual conversations and social events can also help strengthen bonds and
• 02:35 create a more relaxed and friendly work environment.
• 02:38 And if you're in a remote setting, create opportunities to engage.
• 02:44 If that means popping into a virtual huddle to catch up or
• 02:48 scheduling some informal social activities online,
• 02:51 engagement shows that you care about creating a positive, supportive culture.
• 02:58 Now conflict is a natural part of any professional environment,
• 03:02 but managing it effectively is essential.
• 03:06 Emotional intelligence plays a key role in conflict resolution.
• 03:10 It's important to stay calm and objective.
• 03:13 Use your self-management skills to keep emotions in check during conflicts,
• 03:18 respond calmly and objectively, to prevent conflicts from escalating.
• 03:23 And prioritize understanding, focus on understanding the other
• 03:28 person's perspective before trying to get your point across.
• 03:33 This approach can help find common ground and
• 03:36 make it easier to solve the problem together.
• 03:40 And address conflicts early, don't let disagreements fester behind the scenes.
• 03:46 Addressing conflicts early can prevent them from growing into larger problems.
• 03:52 So, mastering relationship management skills involves effective communication,
• 03:57 maintaining relationships, and managing conflicts, with emotional intelligence.
• 04:02 So with this in mind, here's a couple of questions to consider.
• 04:06 Have you ever found yourself in a situation where bad communication made
• 04:11 a situation worse and perhaps caused a relationship to fail?
• 04:15 What happened and what might you have done differently?
• 04:20 And think about some of your current professional relationships.
• 04:24 Is there a relationship that could use more attention?
• 04:27 And if so, what action could you take to strengthen it?
• 04:31 Is it a boss or a colleague, or maybe a customer?
• 04:35 Our relationships are constantly evolving, and
• 04:38 some require more attention than others.
• 04:40 These strategies we've covered in the lesson should go a long way to help you
• 04:45 strengthen them and create new ones.
• 04:48 Next time we'll explore how emotional intelligence influences leadership.
• 04:53 See you then.

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