Getting along with everyone does not necessarily mean wanting to please others, but that you are smart, because having a good relationship with the people around you brings great benefits to your life in general.
Research on empathy reveals that truly successful leaders shine in interpersonal relationships . So if you build empathy, you will be a more effective entrepreneur and leader.
If you want to build strong relationships with your colleagues, clients, employees, friends or perhaps family, discover what key skills you need to get along with everyone, and how beneficial it can be for your work and personal life.
7 skills to get along with people
1. Maintain eye contact
The best thing to do is choose to do personal meetings as much as possible. When you meet someone for the first time, maintain eye contact until you notice their eye color: this reflects the idea that you are really paying attention to what the other person is saying, and like every human being, they will love that they listen carefully.
2. Pay attention to the facial muscles
The face is the first thing you see in a person, and it can reflect the mood or desire to do something of someone specific.
Recognizing the facial expression of another person is a technique to easily know what type of person you are dealing with. Thus, you avoid being disappointed and knowing how to manage certain interpersonal relationships.
Our brains are wired to automatically mimic facial expressions . When someone smiles at you, you almost always smile back, it is an automatic response, but you are also prepared to tell the difference between a fake smile and a genuine happy smile.
The muscles of the face rarely lie. Pay attention.
3. Maintain a proper posture
When we sit down, our posture is generally not the most appropriate and at the same time we forget how people see us. Therefore, you must sit with your back straight: this conveys that you are a person full of security.
Sitting correctly conveys respect and authority . Turn your body towards people, lean slightly forward and try to place yourself at eye level: this will give you self-confidence and, at the same time, you will transmit what you feel.
4. Evaluate people’s emotions
Knowing the emotional state of the person you want to connect with can be exceptionally helpful.
Are you sad, irritated, confused, or euphoric? There is little chance of communicating effectively if you don’t understand where someone is emotionally.
Once again, millions of years of development have made our brains extremely accurate in assessing emotions. Trust your instinct, as it really knows something that your brain ignores.
5. Modify your tone of voice
Linguists use the word “prosody” to refer to to the vocal rhythm and tone of voice of each person .
Prosody infuses a layer of emotion into the spoken word that goes beyond the specific meaning of each word. That is, what you say will not be interpreted by the words you use, but by how you say it.
In medicine, healthcare providers are being taught to match volume and rhythm as if they were chatting with a friend during a difficult time. Relaxing tones result in better conversations and patient outcomes.
6. Listen with empathy
Listening with empathy means paying attention to another person, identifying their emotions, and responding with compassion and without judgment.
For example, do not speak when you are in the “red zone”, that is, when emotions are high in an argument, take a step back. Don’t interrupt or match the other person’s emotion by raising yours to the red zone – you’ll find that the conversation will quickly slow down if you follow these rules.
7. Control your emotions
You may not realize that your emotional state is affecting others, but emotions are truly contagious.
If you are angry, afraid or unsure of yourself, those emotions will leave an impression on others and impact the quality of your communication.
Pay attention to how you feel, because it is a sign of how the people around you will feel.
conclusion
Empathy can be taught and developed, you just have to keep in mind that it is essential when establishing relationships, as it will help us to prosper in various branches of our daily lives.
References
- Gallo, C. (2018). Harvard Psychiatrist Identifies 7 Skills to Help You Get Along With Anybody. For Inc. [Revised January 2019].
