HRO Universal Relationship Skills: Simple, yet useful ways to connect with others

Approximately a 3-minute read

Key takeaways:

• This month, Headlines is highlighting our HRO Universal Relationship Skills
• Universal Relationship Skills are communication practices that show respect and create familiarity among team members. Their implementation helps the organization reach its strategic goals of Belonging and Inclusion. 
• Some skills are non-verbal, like smiling and making eye contact, while others are verbal, like saying “Hello.”

No matter where in Michigan Medicine you work, good communication is always key. After all, it’s what helps us complete tasks and achieve goals as a team.

Whether by phone, email or chat, we talk to our colleagues every day. However, it’s important not to get caught up in the routine of everyday work and forget the importance of communicating in a meaningful way.

Through the use of HRO Relationship Skills, we can improve our communication with others, strengthen our culture of teamwork, and build on the organization’s strategic goals of Belonging and Inclusion.

What are Relationship Skills?

Universal Relationship Skills are communication practices that show respect and create familiarity among team members. Some skills are non-verbal such as smiling and making eye contact, while others are verbal.

Saying “Hello” is a verbal Universal Relationship Skill. These skills are good practice in fostering the caring and inclusive culture at Michigan Medicine. Frequent use of these skills creates an environment that helps us think well as a TEAM.

Here are the five Universal Relationship Skills:

• Smile and greet others, even if it’s a simple “Hello.”
• Introduce yourself and others by using their preferred names and explaining roles.
• Listen with empathy and an intent to understand.
• Communicate the good intentions of your actions.
• Provide the opportunity for others to ask questions.

Relationship Skills in action

Below, you will find examples of employees around our organization utilizing a few different HRO Universal Relationship Skills and cultivating a quality team environment.

Smile, greet others and say “Hello”

Todd Davison, operating rooms, University Hospital

“Todd, we are lucky to have you on our team. You are always so upbeat. Thank you for your kind words and smile!”

Provide the opportunity for others to ask questions

Victoria Fedirko, 4D

“Victoria, thank you for being an amazing preceptor and always answering my questions. You have always been down to earth and have helped me to adapt to the unit. You have sought out opportunities for me to learn and to make my orientation exceptional.”

Listen with empathy and an intent to understand

Alisha Ching, M.D., pediatric emergency medicine

“Dr. Alisha! Thank you for listening to our concerns and taking them seriously. Thank you for including us in the care decisions of our son. That hasn’t always been the case with hospital visits for our family. Your care and empathy with our family has not gone unnoticed. We appreciate you so much.”

Resources for all 

Please check out these resources for more clarification on Universal Relationship Skills. There are downloadable and printable handouts that you can share with your team or hang in your areas. 

HRO Website

Universal Relationship Skills Overview Infographic

Universal Relationship Skills Images for Presentations