Picture this: you’re walking into the office kitchen. A half-full coffee mug sits abandoned on the communal table. Not yours. No one else in sight. And yet—you’ve just been communicated with.

It’s not the mug that’s speaking, of course. It’s the absence of ownership, of accountability, of consideration. It’s a silent signal that says: someone else will take care of it. And whether it’s in the office or at home, that message lands.

We communicate with more than our words. We communicate through energy, presence, consistency—and yes, even with coffee cups. Culture is shaped in these small moments. And when we ignore them, we miss an opportunity to reinforce the values that truly matter - respect, compassion, kindness, and accountability.

The Ripple Effect in Your Coffee

We often think of communication as what happens in meetings, emails, and Slack messages. But the most powerful form of communication happens in the micro-moments—how we greet someone in the hallway, whether we follow ...

In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, the ability to communicate effectively is a valuable skill. Recently, I stumbled upon an intriguing article written by former CIA agent turned CEO Rupal Patel in which he shed some light on the habits of people with high emotional intelligence when engaging in conversations . The original six points were insightful, and I agreed with all of them (especially #2 IYKYK), and in this blog I am sharing three additional elements that will enhance the dynamics of your interpersonal communication.

1. Practice Empathetic Listening:

In fact, practice listening, full stop. One of the cornerstones of emotional intelligence is empathetic listening. While Mr. Patel emphasized the importance of understanding others' emotions (here here!), it’s critical to underscore the significance of actively listening to them. People with high emotional intelligence don't simply hear words; they listen with the intent to understand, absorbing not only t...