Have you ever pondered why a hiring manager, an athletic scout, or a college admissions officer ranks a candidate with strong people skills high on their approval list?
And no, I am not referring to the loudest, the smartest, or the funniest person in the room but rather to those individuals who bring out the best in others!
We live in a world where human interaction is unavoidable- be it at the workplace, places of worship, classrooms, recreational facilities…you name it, a world whereby socially acceptable behaviors include treating others with kindness, respect, politeness, and compassion.
However, every now and then, we fall short of embodying these social graces. You may subconsiously curse under your breath when an aggressive driver cuts you off on the freeway, or give your overly chatty co-worker a blank stare as you are intensely focused on completing a lingering work project.
These reactions are completely natural, and even though we tend to rationalize our feelings, we still hold the power to maintain appropriate social decorum and tact as we navigate common occurrences that test our patience.
Briefly, here are 6 practices that promote healthy and positive interpersonal relationships in all areas of life.
1. Be kind.
No one wants to be around a person that fills a room with negative energy. Leave emotional triggers, sad feelings, or disappointments at home and be fully present for yourself and others in your everyday activities.
2. Be adaptable.
Change is inevitable and mastering the act of adapting to change can make a world of difference in your overall outlook in life. Adaptability is key to developing meaningful relationships with others, which bridges the gap to realizing optimal outcomes in the workplace, spousal relationships, and friendships. Look at it this way, without change you cannot grow!
3. Practice active listening.
Engage with others wholeheartedly and make eye contact as you listen to them speak. This signals that you are approachable and genuinely interested in what they have to say. We simply thrive on being heard and understood so think again next time you are tempted to nod away in disinterested oblivion!
4. Be honest and set healthy boundaries.
Speak up if you suspect that you are not being treated with fairness, respect, and dignity. Any form of abuse or harassment is unacceptable, and you should not be fearful to broach the subject with relevant authorities. If retaliation occurs as a result of you reporting an incident that threatens your safety, you owe it to yourself to cut ties immediately and take legal action accordingly.
5. Practice gratitude.
While unfavorable developments cannot be avoided, others may have it far worse than you. Remember, every opportunity in life yields experiences-good and bad that help prepare you for the next level as you elevate higher! Having a positive attitude shows that you are grateful for your blessings.
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6. Give yourself grace.
Hold yourself accountable on days that you fall short of embodying the social graces that strengthen interpersonal relationships. We all have those days when nothing we do gets us out of an irritable mood! It could simply be that you are ill, mentally exhausted, or grieving a loss. Take some days off to rest and recharge so that you can become more effective in your daily interactions with others.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. Thank you for reading all the way through and feel free to leave a comment below!