Over the past few years, emotional intelligence (EI) has become one of the most popular leadership theories in the workplace. Many claim that it can have profound effects on employee engagement, teamwork, communication, and more.

Some even say that it is the key factor behind successful leadership styles. As such, there are now many tools and strategies focused on developing your EI.

You will find courses and programs that teach you how to increase your empathy, manage your emotions, use motivation effectively, and understand other people’s psychology.

But what does all this mean for your career?

This article will discuss some ways that you can apply emotional intelligence at work to create better relationships with others. Specifically, we will talk about how to use emotion for productive purposes in the office.

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Listen more than talk

Being able to listen is one of the most important skills you can develop at work. People will sometimes feel like they are talking too much, or that you are not listening to what they have to say.

However, being a good listener means more than simply giving people your attention while they speak. It also includes showing an interest in others, asking questions, acknowledging their points, and responding to them thoughtfully.

It may be difficult at first to focus on other people’s conversations because you would rather be doing something else. But by putting some effort into it, you will soon learn how to manage your time efficiently so that you do not waste any time on uninteresting topics.

If someone talks about their job, ask questions such as “What does that position mean to you?” and "How did you get into that role?" Then, when they discuss challenges they faced, ask if there were anything similar to those and see whether you can offer tips or suggestions.

Make eye contact

Making direct, meaningful connections with others is a powerful way to enhance workplace relationships. When you make good eye contact, you show interest in someone else’s well-being and respect their space. Plus, it makes them feel seen and appreciated.

Good eye contact isn’t just for strangers — it’s for friends, colleagues and even your boss!

When making an acquaintance or doing business with people, establishing strong eye contact is a nice first touch. It shows confidence and strength of character, and sets a tone for what kind of relationship will exist between you.

For this reason, practicing good eye contact can help you in many areas of your life. The trick is to know when it's appropriate and how to do it effectively.

Making eye contact doesn't necessarily mean looking at something for very long, nor does it mean sticking around for very long after other things have stopped moving. A couple of seconds' worth of contact is enough - unless they're really trying hard not to look away.

But if they are, that's probably a sign there's something wrong.

Be consistent

Consistency is one of the most important things you can be when trying to establish relationships at work. If someone sees you consistently, they will know what to expect from you.

They will trust that you will keep your word, that you will follow through with commitments, and that you will put their interests ahead of yours.

Consistency also helps people determine how much respect you deserve. If you show up frequently, then others may give you more credit for your actions because it proves that you are willing to put in time into this workplace.

On the other hand, if you never seem to be around or if you do not contribute anything towards the team, then people may conclude that you are not invested in this organization or its success.

It takes a lot of effort to build strong workplace relationships, but they are totally worth it! When you use these skills, people will feel comfortable coming to you for help and advice.

Be realistic

It is impossible to have strong relationships at work if you are not willing to be real with people. You need to be open about who you are, what you want, how you feel, and ask for the same in return.

As mentioned before, your colleagues will probably make mistakes and say things that hurt you or upset you. This can easily cause breakdowns of trust and relationship s-torms.

But you must resist the urge to walk away from them because of something they said or done that offended you.

Think about it – would you stay next to someone who consistently calls you names and makes fun of you? Probably not! So why should you remain close to someone who says rude things to you all the time?

Your job requires teamwork, so learn how to manage your team and staff. If you cannot, look into ways to improve your emotional intelligence (EI) so you do not become too stressed out.

Share your experiences

Letting go of fear, not taking things too seriously, being honest with people about their mistakes or bad days, and understanding that there is no correct way to respond to someone else’s actions are all ways to use emotional intelligence in workplace relationships.

If you want someone to trust you, show them you can be trusted. If you want to earn someone’s respect, set high standards for yourself first. By putting in the effort into showing leadership through action and honesty, you will gain their trust and admiration.

Your colleagues and superiors will also look up to you and trust what you say because they know you from person to person. When they see you leading by example, listening to others, offering help when needed, and setting goals together, they will learn from you and feel motivated to do the same.

Building trust takes time, but if you keep working at it, then eventually everyone will have confidence in you. You will prove yourself over and over again, which is why most successful businesspeople have loyal staff who believe in them and work hard for them.

Be honest with your peers

Sometimes, in the workplace, people try to cover up their mistakes or weaknesses by being more friendly towards others – this is not a good tactic. If you make a mistake, admit it and be honest about what happened so that people can learn from it.

If someone does something wrong, tell them! No one ever makes a truly great team member by knowing how to keep secrets.

By telling someone they are doing something incorrectly, they will probably fix the problem themselves since everyone has made similar attempts before. This could also motivate them to do better as they realize there’s no hiding place for bad work.

Everyone experiences things differently, which is why it is important to understand other people’s emotions. When someone is crying, tell them they seem upset, and offer to talk about the situation later when they feel less overwhelmed.

Be honest with your supervisors

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest enemies to workplace harmony is when someone is not being as open with their colleagues or superiors.

If you find that your colleague isn’t sharing important information with their team, if they don’t seem interested in getting feedback, or if they consistently have angry facial expressions, it may be time to put some effort into improving their relationships.

It can often feel like there's a wall between them and their colleagues, and those higher up just assume that they're doing a good job since they never get told otherwise.

When bosses do make an attempt at praise or suggestions, it usually comes across as forced and meaningless, making people think that maybe they're hiding something bad.

Be honest with your coworkers

As mentioned before, you will not find many people that are able to relate to others easily. People have different personalities and emotions, which make relating to them difficult at times.

When someone does something that makes you feel bad or unhappy, it is easy to think about quitting your job. You may even consider them as enemies now, making it hard to keep working.

By being more aware of other’s emotional states, you can be better at keeping relationships strong. If you notice things that seem off, maybe try talking to the person about it so that they can get help for their issues.

You could also ask if there is anything that they would like you to know, but make sure to use this time wisely instead of for an argument. Simply trying to understand what made them feel down can be helpful in avoiding workplace conflicts.