Winton Eliott
Today, we frequently hear the need for interpersonal skills and increasing our interpersonal intelligence. Its meaning, though, is not made clear, nor why its improvement is so crucial in our lives.
Howard Gardner, a Harvard University psychologist and educator, coined the term interpersonal intelligence.
He first defined it and described it in his book Frames of Mind, which was published in 1983.
Interpersonal intelligence is one of the eight components of Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
What is interpersonal intelligence?
Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand and interact with other people.
It includes the ability to read others’ emotions, communicate effectively, and build relationships.
People with high interpersonal intelligence are often successful in fields such as teaching, sales, and counseling.
Interpersonal intelligence does not just involve understanding other people, it also involves the ability to manage one’s own emotions and navigate social situations.
They are able to build strong relationships and understand what makes other people tick.
Interpersonal intelligence is a valuable skill in any field where you need to interact with others.
Whether you’re working in customer service or managing a team, it’s helpful to be able to understand and manage different personality types.
If you want to be successful in a people-oriented career, developing your interpersonal intelligence is a good place to start.
What is the characteristic of a person with interpersonal intelligence?
People with interpersonal intelligence are often successful in fields that require communication and interaction with others. They tend to be good at reading people and understanding their emotions.
As a result, they are often skilled at mediating conflicts and networking.
People with interpersonal intelligence are also often persuasive and articulate. They can be very convincing when they need to be, and they generally have easy time building relationships.
In addition, people with interpersonal intelligence are typically good at empathizing with others.
They can see both sides of every issue, and they are usually very compassionate. As a result, people with interpersonal intelligence often make great leaders.
How to develop intrapersonal intelligence?
If you’re interested in developing your interpersonal intelligence, there are a few things you can do.
Observing the people around you
One of the most important things you can do to develop your intrapersonal intelligence is to observe the people around you. Pay attention to how they interact with each other and with their environment.
What kind of body language do they use?
What tone of voice do they use when they speak?
How do they dress?
By observing the people around you, you can learn a lot about yourself and how you fit into the world. You may also find that you have more in common with some people than you realize.
Building relationships
Another important thing you can do to develop your interpersonal intelligence is to build relationships with the people around you.
Get to know them on a personal level. Find out what their interests are and what they’re passionate about. Show them that you care about them as a person, not just as a cog in the machine.
When you have strong relationships with the people around you, you’ll be better equipped to understand them and communicate effectively.
Practicing active listening
Active listening is a key skill for anyone interested in developing interpersonal intelligence.
Active listening is all about giving your full attention to the person who is speaking to you. It’s about making an effort to understand their point of view and taking the time to respond thoughtfully.
When you practice active listening, you’re showing the person that you value them and their opinion. This can go a long way toward building strong relationships.
Focusing on problem-solving
When you’re dealing with people, there will inevitably be conflict. It’s important to remember that not all conflict is bad. In fact, some conflict can be beneficial if it leads to growth and understanding.
When you focus on problem-solving, you can turn conflict into an opportunity to learn more about the other person and build a stronger relationship.
Teaching others to learn something yourself
One of the best ways to learn something is to teach it to someone else. When you teach someone else, you’re forced to really understand the material.
You also have the opportunity to see things from their perspective and help them find their own way of learning. This is a great way to develop your interpersonal intelligence.
Doing volunteer work for the community
Volunteer work is a great way to develop your interpersonal intelligence.
When you volunteer, you have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of people. You also get to see firsthand how your actions can impact the lives of others.
This can be a very rewarding experience and it’s a great way to learn more about yourself and the world around you.
Final thought
Interpersonal intelligence is a valuable skill in any field where you need to interact with others.
Whether you’re working in customer service or managing a team, it’s helpful to be able to understand and manage different personality types.
If you want to be successful in a people-oriented career, developing your interpersonal intelligence is a good place to start.
By taking the time to develop your interpersonal intelligence, you can improve your relationships and communication skills. This will benefit you in your personal and professional life.
