Cultivating Invaluable Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal Relationships Defined

This subscale measures the ability to establish and maintain mutually satisfying relationships that are characterised by trust, compassion and a balance in give and take. Interpersonal Relationships evaluates how well a person can form close and supportive ties with others, and whether they understand the value and importance of social connections. When we characterise a relationship as mutually satisfying, it includes meaningful social interchanges that are rewarding and enjoyable.  

Positive interpersonal relationship skills are characterised by sensitivity toward others. This component of emotional intelligence is not only associated with the desire to cultivate friendly relations with others but with the ability to feel at ease and comfortable in such relations, and to possess positive expectations concerning social interactions. 

People who score high in Interpersonal Relationships make it a priority and have the skill to build connections with others. When Interpersonal Relationships is too active or overdone it can look unhealthy, co-dependent, needy and unwilling to be alone. It can seem like someone is overly or inappropriately familiar, too free with personal information, and too demanding or expectant of similar behaviours from others. 

When it is not developed enough, a person can lack community, support, confidants, and interactions that help one develop not just people skills and work skills, but life skills and self-understanding through the reflection that our relationships with others provide. 

How Interpersonal Relationships is a critical component of emotional intelligence.

Interpersonal relationships are critical for emotional intelligence and development. It is through our interactions with others that we get to explore and express ourselves and our functions. Others provide not just emotional support for us to navigate life more effectively, but they offer us the feedback and exchange to help us cultivate skills in communication, empathy, collaboration, and leadership.

It is through our behaviours and exchanges with others that we get to grow and develop more awareness of self and the world around us so we can better understand what we need to do to create better experiences and outcomes. 

Here are five emotional intelligence subscales from the EQ-i 2.0 that Interpersonal Relationships is strongly correlated with:

Emotional Expression

The ability to express emotions openly and constructively without placing burden or responsibility on others is key to creating healthy relationships. Effective emotional expression ensures clear communication, reduces misunderstanding, and fosters an environment where emotional honesty is valued, thereby deepening the bonds between people.

Problem Solving

This involves the ability to manage emotions when solving problems to make optimal decisions that consider the emotional impacts on self and others. Problem solving skills impacts interpersonal relationships through functions such as conflict resolution. Resolving issues between people or within a project you need to be calm, constructive and consider the emotions and needs of all involved. Engaging such behaviours strengthens relationships as it ensures decisions support and enhance interpersonal dynamics rather than undermine them.

Independence

Independence is to be self-directed and free from emotional dependency on others while still valuing and engaging in close relationships. It includes self-regulating emotions and acting autonomously. Engaging in independence helps others develop their own emotional well-being without overly relying on others. Independence creates balance, respect, and equity in relationships as it ensures each brings strength and self-sufficiency to the interaction, so relationships are based on mutual support rather than dependency. Thus, enriching the connection between individuals.

Self-Actualisation

Self-Actualisation refers to the pursuit of personal growth, fulfillment, and realisation of one's potential. Self-Actualisation has a positive impact on interpersonal relationships by inspiring individuals to engage in meaningful interactions that strive for growth. Ambitions for self-actualisation lead people to seek and cultivate relationships that are supportive, enriching, and aligned with their values and aspirations. The pursuit of self-actualisation can inspire and motivate others, fostering a dynamic of mutual growth and development within relationships.

Five key signs to cultivate more Interpersonal Relationships

Here are five key signs to cultivate more capability in Interpersonal Relationships. When we develop this aspect of our emotional intelligence, we increase skills that lead to better teamwork, more effective communication, improved leadership and a sense of belonging and connection within the team and broader business.  

1. Poor Team Collaboration: Difficulties working in a team setting, experiencing regular conflicts, inefficiency, or poor outcomes, can indicate a need to work on Interpersonal Relationships. Poor team collaboration could present as an inability to compromise or actively listen, creating division between people, or not considering other’s perspectives or ideas when working together.
2. Difficulty in Accepting Feedback: Reacting defensively to constructive criticism or feedback and taking things personally can demonstrate a lack of Interpersonal Relationship skills. Not being open to the opinions of others can strain and hinder relationships from developing and can have negative effects to the task and people involved. If we fail to take on others opinions we fail to understand and consider another’s experience and create deeper connections.
3. Limited Networking Success: Feeling awkward, anxious or withdrawn from social situations, difficulty in initiating conversations, or failure to follow up on contacts can suggest that there is need to develop Interpersonal Relationships. Not maintaining professional relationships, can inhibit opportunities for both collaborations and career advancement.
4. Frequent Misunderstandings with Others: Experiencing regular occurrences of being misunderstood or misinterpreting conversations can suggest there is in effective communication and a failure to develop understanding in Interpersonal Relationships.  
5. Ineffective Conflict Resolution: Not being able to resolve conflicts constructively or effectively, or avoiding confrontation all together can show a need to develop areas of Interpersonal Relationships. Failing to resolve conflict often leads to disputes escalating, and unresolved issues creating contention within the team or workplace.

Exploring your Interpersonal Relationships

To explore your level of Interpersonal Relationships you can use the questions below to reflect on current behaviours and identify how these are either assisting or hindering you from cultivating stronger relationships with others.

1. How do I currently perceive my ability to form and maintain close relationships?
2. Can I identify any patterns or habits that enhance or hinder my relationships?
3. How well do I listen and respond to the feelings and needs of those around me?
4. How do I react to feedback or criticism from others in my personal and professional life? Am I seeing it as an opportunity for growth or as a personal attack?
5. What strategies do I use to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones?
6. In what areas of social interaction or team collaboration do I feel most comfortable, and in which areas do I feel I could improve?
7. How do I manage and express my emotions in my relationships and interactions with others?
8. Reflect on a recent conflict you experienced. How did you handle it? What could you have done differently to resolve it more effectively?

Developing your Interpersonal Relationships

Developing your Interpersonal relationships involves a journey of self-reflection and receiving feedback from others. Self-review is the starting point, but allowing others to contribute is how stronger relationships are built. Here are five effective ways you can do this:

Invest Time and Effort:

It takes time and consistency for bonds, trust and empathy to be felt and established in relationships. By engaging more conscious effort for shared experiences and interaction with others, whether coffee catch ups, walking to their desk or setting a video call to check in, communicating more frequently, coming together for collaborative work, or offering quality time for one-on-one conversations.

Be Open to Feedback

Create opportunities for people to give you feedback and share their experience with you. Reflect on what they say without taking it personally. We all have areas that need development and can be improved. By allowing others to share their insights it offers support and clear direction on what you can work on to improve your relationship with them.

Show Appreciation and Gratitude

Express your thanks for the efforts and energy that others give. Recognising others with a sense of gratitude strengthens bonds and let’s people know you see them and what they contribute. This instils a sense of value and respect within the relationship.

Practice Flexibility and Adaptability

Be open to changing your approach or perspective based on new information, the situation and people involved. When we practice flexibility to change our method or mind and adapt other’s suggestions or ideas, it creates a more inclusive and harmonious environment for collaboration. This can also minimise and defuse potential conflicts or misunderstandings.

Engage in Team Building Activities

Organise bonding exercises that foster collaboration and fun to improve mutual understanding, trust and cooperation. Engaging in such activities helps break down any barriers between you and others and creates a more casual opportunity for people to connect and see each other through the lens of a new experience.

Conclusion

Cultivating strong interpersonal relationships is both a necessity and benefit for personal and professional life. The EQ-i 2.0 model’s focus for interpersonal relationships subscale highlights the critical role that our connections play in our overall emotional intelligence and success. If you are wanting to improve your interpersonal relationships, elevate professional skills and create more exciting career opportunities review your emotional expression, self-actualisation, problem solving and independence.

Reflecting on these areas of your development and understanding how you are considering, engaging, and ensuring the people around in your communication, ambitions, project challenges and collaborations, will improve the exchange where both you and others are feeling valued and supported.

Bringing our focus onto what we are doing and what we can be improve is the beginning of creating change in our relationships. Healthy and engaging social dynamics elevate not just our work but our wellbeing. We are all in this together, and we all need each other.