Use the Power of EQ: The Three Keys to Building Strong Work Relations

 Did you ever wonder why the military is big on the phrase: “MISSION FIRST: One Team, One Fight”?

At first, I did not believe in this mantra when I started working with NATO and military officers.

While managing tactical helicopter programs in Southern France within a small multinational team of civil and military experts, I felt isolated from the real world.

It was definitely one of the most enriching culinary experiences of my career. Compared to my experience of the Dutch cuisine, the French cuisine was quite the opposite sensation. However, no one can beat my mom's Moroccan cuisine!

I never realized the full meaning of "MISSION FIRST: One Team, One Fight" until years later when I deployed to Afghanistan. Those four months in a war zone were life changing in so many ways.

Our survival and the success of our mission depended on relationships. Leaders who were able to instil confidence and trust in their teams, were literally saving lives. In the end, we had no choice but to trust that we knew what to do, how to do it, and when to do it based on their leadership.

The team experience was unforgettable because of clear roles and responsibilities towards achieving ONE MISSION, with One Team and One Fight.

“People will not remember what you know or what you said. But they will remember how you made them feel. “- Theodore Roosevelt

 

Three Essential Elements for Building Strong Workplace Relationships

EQ-i 2.0 includes interpersonal relationships, empathy, and social responsibility on its interpersonal scale.

In interpersonal relationships, trust and compassion are characterized by the ability to develop and maintain mutually satisfying relationships.

Empathy is recognizing, understanding, and appreciating another person's feelings. To demonstrate empathy, you must be able to articulate your understanding of another's perspective and respect their feelings.

The concept of social responsibility can be defined as the willingness to contribute to society, to one's social group, and to the general welfare of others.

Interpersonal Relations

The ability to develop and maintain mutually satisfying relationships is all about trust and compassion. Developing strong relationships has never been more important at a time when technology is rapidly evolving and redefining what it means to be human.

Those who tend to have low levels of interpersonal relations are often isolated from other people and remain in their comfort zones interacting as little as possible with others. As a result, they can appear detached, cold, and unbothered because they have difficulty connecting and trusting others.

The majority of people with average interpersonal relations seem approachable, warm, and trustworthy only to a small circle of friends and family members. Outside their close circle of friends, maintaining consistent relationships can be challenging.

A person with high interpersonal relations values connecting with others, being connected to others. Both giving and receiving trust comes easily to them. Their character is often described as compassionate and kind.

Empathy

Having empathy for another person means understanding, appreciating, and recognizing their feelings. Empathy requires an understanding of another's perspective and respect for their feelings.

It is common for those with low empathy levels to be unaware of others' needs and emotions, and to feel little compassion for them. Their behavior tends to be self-centered and detached from emotions.

In general, people with average empathy pay only sporadic attention to others. Their attention is drawn to certain people and circumstances more than others, and they are careful where they place their focus.

A person with a high level of empathy is often sensitive to, concerned about, and aware of others' needs. They are well respected by others due to their compassionate and active listening skills. Having too much empathy can lead to emotional codependency and disease-to-please behavior.

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility refers to the willingness to contribute to society, one's social group, and the general welfare of others. Although it may initially make you think of corporate responsibility or civic society in a business or professional environment, social responsibility extends to all areas of life and is crucial for effective teamwork.

Individuals with low levels of social responsibility are often perceived as insensitive to others' feelings and group needs. They tend to prioritize their own interests over the collective interest of the enterprise or community.

People with average levels of social responsibility may demonstrate a moderate level of caring for a greater cause, depending on what is important to them or pertains to the needs of a small group of people.

Those with high levels of social responsibility are seen as selfless and compassionate towards others. They place a high value on corporate responsibility, community, and the environment, and strive to make positive contributions in all areas of their life. Understanding where you fall on the social responsibility spectrum can help you identify areas for growth and improvement in your personal and professional relationships.

Building strong relationships is crucial to achieving success, whether it's in a military mission or in any professional setting. Developing interpersonal relationships, practicing empathy, and demonstrating social responsibility are key components to building trust and compassion with others.

By understanding your strengths and weaknesses in these areas, you can improve your ability to connect with others and foster relationships that are mutually beneficial.

If you're interested in developing these skills further and enhancing your ability to build strong relationships, let's connect and explore how Thrive with EQ can help you! Together, we can explore how you can become more effective in building and maintaining relationships in both your personal and professional life.