COM200: Interpersonal Communication
December 12, 2011
Five Keys for Effectively Using Interpersonal Communication within a Relationship
Dear Jim and Lisa, Congratulations on your recent engagement! I am honored that you would ask my advice for your relationship based on the information that I have been learning in my Interpersonal Communication course through Ashford University. Because marriage comes with many challenges, it is so great that you are being proactive in seeking advice for effectively using interpersonal communication within your relationship. Although I am not an expert, I would like to share with you five key elements that I have been learning and attempting to implement in my own relationship. These keys involve understanding and developing strategies for emotional intelligence, effective listening, nonverbal expression, self-disclosure, and managing interpersonal conflicts. I believe these five keys will contribute greatly to the success of your life-long commitment of marriage.
Define Emotional Intelligence and its Role in Effective Interpersonal Relationships One of the first keys to successful communication involves understanding emotions and expressing them appropriately through emotional intelligence (EI). Emotional intelligence can be defined as a person’s ability to portray emotional sensitivity and emotional management skills. It has been studied since 1985, when it first appeared as a term in Wayne Leon Payne’s doctoral dissertation. However Daniel Goleman is the writer most commonly associated with the term, because he has done much published research regarding the topic in both articles and books. Emotional intelligence can be described as having three components: (1) the ability to effectively perceive, communicate, and manage negative emotions; (2) the ability to experience, communicate, and sustain positive emotions;