Relationship Savvy

“The genius of communication is to be both totally honest and totally kind at the same time.”

— John Powell

Relationship Savvy is the Emotional Competency of relating well and creating relationships with all kinds of people, even those you may not particularly like, to accomplish goals.

Relationships are an integral part of both our personal and work lives, so it is not surprising that being relationship savvy overlaps with many of the other 54 EQ Competencies. Research suggests that supportive, positive relationships lead to lower stress levels, better health, a greater sense of meaning, and a longer life. Skills in managing relationships are crucial to happiness, well-being and success. Getting along well with a variety of people, even those you disagree with or dislike, means appreciating that each person perceives the world differently based on their own life events and experiences. This calls for putting any quick judgments about others on hold and communicating respect and appreciation. It also means developing skills in communicating honestly, directly and kindly at the same time.

Relationship Savvy can be learned, and developed by following the tips like these from EQDashboard.com.

If you or someone with whom you work exhibit these behaviors, seeking the advice and tips at EQDashboard.com provides a quick remedy:

  • Discomfort with people you don’t know
  • Technical orientation at the expense of relationships
  • Valuing power and control more than relationships
  • Overly critical, prickly, unapproachable
  • Overly focused on relationships to the point of neglecting responsibilities

Action learning tips and learning assignments on the job are a click away at EQDashboard.com.

You might also consider (a sampling of suggestions from EQDashboard.com):

  • Baber, Anne, and Lynne Waymon. Make Your Contacts Count: Networking Know-How for Business and Career Success. New York: AMACOM, 2007.
  • Lowndes, Leil. How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
  • Paul, Maria. The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore. Emmaus, PA: Rodale, 2004.
  • Roane, Susan. How to Work a Room, Revised Edition: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing. New York: Harper, 2007.
  • Wiskup, Mark. The It Factor: Be the One People Like, Listen to, and Remember. New York: AMACOM, 2007.
  • Related EQ Competencies include:

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    EQ Will Save Your Life

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