Develop effective interpersonal skills—active listening, clear expression, empathy, conflict resolution—strengthening relationships and reducing stress from misunderstandings. "), nonverbal awareness (body language, tone matching words), validation (acknowledging others' feelings), assertiveness (expressing needs respectfully, not aggressively or passively).
Common barriers: assumptions, defensiveness, interrupting, advice-giving when listening needed. Conflict resolution: stay calm, seek to understand before being understood, find common ground, compromise. Healthy communication builds trust, intimacy, and mutual respect. Reduces relationship stress—major wellbeing factor. Practice: ask open questions, pause before reacting, check understanding.
Applicable everywhere: romantic relationships, family, work, friendships. Foundation of emotional intelligence. Learnable skill—not fixed trait.