This signals your commitment to the conversation and and your desire to gain clarity minus any judgment.

Effective communicators don’t pretend they know things when they don’t, or make another person feel stupid for not expressing themselves clearly.

While there’s nothing wrong with praise like, “looks good” or “thank you,” saying you appreciate the human being behind the work adds an extra layer of gratitude and facilitates stronger relationships down the road

If this is too far out of your comfort zone, start with its sister phrase, “I appreciate your work on this.”

indicates a fundamental confidence in the decisions and abilities of another person, allowing them to deliver results and build personal morale.

People generally perform better when they’re supported and believed in, rather than micromanaged or overly questioned.

Emotionally intelligent people don’t censor ideas, steamroll feedback, or presume they know more than everyone else. They don't feel insecure and they know they don't have anything to prove.

Being emotionally intelligent means neither creating unnecessary drama nor shying away from differences of opinion.

If your thoughts don’t mesh with your co-workers', rather than remaining silent you can say something like “I'm afraid I don’t agree” or leading with a cloying, “With all due respect,” say, “I have a different perspective.”

This opens the door to respectful dialogue and exchange of ideas. Who knows you're bringing something to the table that they didn't think to consider.

If someone who is usually reliable isn’t performing to their standards, put disappointment aside for a moment and genuinely ask them of they're all right. They might have a perfectly acceptable reason.

Far from being a sign of weakness, the ability to apologise is a hallmark trait of an emotional intelligent person. Recognising mistakes, taking responsibility, and showing remorse and a desire to do better are the foundational elements of productive personal-relationship-building.

However 'sorry' is not something you can toss around everytime you miss your dealine or to get your mom to shut up. When you say 'sorry', mean it

Resist the tendency to over-apologise. This doesnt make you sound sorry at all. Instead, it makes you sound like everything's centred on you and your feelings

Instead of saying sorry about everyhting, try thanking someone the other person for their understanding. This shifts the focus from you onto what the other person is experiencing.