Introduction
Recent psychological research shows that there is no dichotomy between the presence and absence of mental health issues. This means that the absence of a diagnosis does not necessarily indicate that a person is mentally healthy. Just like with physical health, a person may not have any illnesses but still lead a lifestyle, behave, or have habits that make them physically or mentally unhealthy.
Mental health problems are not a sign of weakness—quite the opposite. Often, determined, energetic, goal-oriented, and ambitious individuals who achieve high results are the most vulnerable and prone to mental health issues, as they put pressure on themselves and set excessively high standards. This, in turn, affects their ability to communicate normally with others. Any negative reaction from an interlocutor distorts the meaning of what you’re trying to convey—people may simply hear something different from what you intended to say.
The communication process is a highly complex interaction that elicits certain reactions from its participants. Emotionality is often viewed as a psychobiological phenomenon, linked to people’s need to adapt to internal mental stimuli. Its primary function is to relieve emotional tension and maintain psychological balance.
To build a successful career, it is essential not only to understand your own emotions but also to consider the emotions of your interlocutor. This helps in responding appropriately to situations and building effective relationships with people.
What to do about this?
Everything starts with openness and friendliness. The quality of our relationships with those around us primarily depends on ourselves. This involves attentiveness and psychological wellbeing, and tools like therapy play an important role in addressing this issue. Emotional intelligence, broadly speaking, refers to the ability to understand and regulate emotions. Emotional intelligence consists of several components: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. The ability to lead others and build strong relationships within a team will allow you to establish long-term relationships in the future.
Here are a few tips for improving communication quality:
- Look for issues in your communication that cause negative reactions in others. To do this, pay attention to people’s reactions to your words, and read non-verbal cues of irritation or loss of attention.
- Seek feedback—find out if the person understood you as you intended. In one-third of cases, people will tell you something completely different from what you intended to convey. This is a clear sign that you failed to communicate your point. Always analyze these instances and look for your mistakes in communication.
- Respect the other person and look for their positive traits.
What are the qualities of an effective manager?
If you build a motivation system based on mistrust, the atmosphere in the team will not be organic. In a system of penalties, control, and restrictions, employee productivity is no more than 30%. On the contrary, when you create conditions for maximum engagement, people can surprise you with their performance. A leader’s task is to help a person fully realize their potential and, in doing so, achieve success. Belief in people, friendliness, and openness are the most important aspects of building a strong team and a successful business. It is impossible to be a successful manager if you cannot manage yourself. There is a hierarchy of tasks that consists of three stages: first, you learn to manage yourself, then the team, and finally the product. It’s also important to ask yourself, “What does the other person want?” This helps in building a team and understanding how to communicate with employees and partners.
How to support your employees?
Don’t avoid talking to an employee whom you believe needs support—the earlier their need for help is addressed, the easier it will be for them to receive it. Ask simple questions calmly and encourage the employee to talk, showing empathy and understanding. If this isn’t enough, consult the psychological support service to discuss how best to handle a delicate situation. The employee assistance program is designed to help employees and managers address personal issues that hinder effective work and improve the company’s productivity.
