It’s not unusual to work alongside people who have fundamentally different values and perspectives. Not surprisingly, these differences can lead to conflict, especially in personal conversations at work. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) helps us manage these conflicts and maintain respectful, healthy working relationships. One key area of EQ is Relationship Management—the ability to handle conflict, communicate effectively, and work well together even when we don’t agree.
EQ at work
We can’t always avoid differences in opinion. Some of the strongest and most effective teams do not always agree. However, they can disagree respectfully and stay focused on the shared goal. Different opinions aren’t the problem; it’s the name-calling, yelling, and leaving people out of conversations or entire meetings that cause conflict.
When we strengthen our relationship management EQ skills, we can manage disagreements while keeping professional relationships intact and still getting the work done.
EQ at home
EQ isn’t just for work—it’s crucial in personal relationships, too. When you disagree with a friend, partner, or family member, remember you’re on the same team, not opposing teams. Take a breath and try saying, “We obviously don’t agree about this, but I care about you and want to find a way we can talk kindly to each other. And if we can’t do that, let’s put it aside for now.”
Self-reflection for the week
Ask yourself:
Where do you experience the most conflict at work? Is it with a specific person or a project?
If you could ask someone at work to change one behavior to improve your relationship, what would it be?
What one behavior can I change to improve my relationships at work?
Action for the week
This week, when a conversation gets tense, especially about personal beliefs, set a boundary to reduce tension and keep things respectful. You can say, “We have different views, and continuing this conversation isn’t helping. Let’s focus on work for now.”
Remember, keep it Kind, Compassionate, Respectful, and at work – Professional!
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