Emotional Intelligence: Relationship Management

Let us continue with the final domain of emotional intelligence: relationship management. Relationship management is where we put it all together. We have learned to change and adapt. We have been mindful of our own emotions and those of others. Relationship management focuses on developing others, conflict management, teamwork and collaboration, and inspirational leadership. When we focus on developing others, we take time to understand an individual's development needs and support their unique strengths, seeking to identify their passions and what they can bring to the team. Conflict management is another critical competency of relationship management.

Here you develop your ability to have effective conversations, even if difficult. Settling disagreements or misunderstandings between yourself and others on the team helps build trust instead of eroding it. Effective relationship management allows us to celebrate teamwork and collaboration by working toward a common goal. It is important to think about your own relationships and develop strategies that will help you be successful personally and professionally. A few strategies to consider include enhance your natural communication style while considering the style of others. If you don't know a colleague's preference for communicating, ask. Be open to receiving feedback, not just giving it. You may have noticed that a lot of these competencies are crucial to leadership. Inspiring, developing, and influencing is what relationship management is all about.