Communication is vital to many everyday tasks, such as having a conversation with a loved one, discussing a situation with a colleague, or giving a speech. Speakers do not always communicate as successfully as they think they will, in fact it has been discovered that speakers systematically overestimate their communicative effectiveness. In most cases, senders and recipients communicate successfully, but there are times when the lines of communication break down. In a work environment the lines of communication must remain intact because if there are misunderstandings these misunderstandings could result in a life or death situation. Using your emotional intelligence when communicating with colleagues will help break down barriers in the communication process, regardless of your colleagues' background, nationality or gender. Everyone uses their emotional intelligence on a daily basis, sometimes without realizing it. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and get along with others by being self-aware, managing your emotions, motivating yourself, recognizing emotions in others and through the way you manage relationships (Hybels & Weaver, 2007). Understanding EI characteristics and how they affect communication is important because knowing your EI strengths and weaknesses can make you a successful communicator. EI is a trainable skill, so if you are weak in one or more areas you can learn skills to make you stronger in these areas. Of all the characteristics of EI, being self-aware is crucial. If you are not aware of your emotions and how you feel, you may not be able to determine how other people feel or you may not realize how you come across to others. If... in the center of the paper... everyone should be on the same page. Following these procedures eliminates the possibility of miscommunication. Knowing your strengths and improving your weaknesses in the area of ​​emotional intelligence will help your communication skills in a positive way. Anyone can improve their emotional intelligence, regardless of their background, culture or gender. Effective communication skills will open successful lines of communication between colleagues, family and friends. Knowing your flaws and improving them will make you a positive and successful person. Works Cited Hybels, S. & Weaver II, R.L. (2007). Communicating Effectively, (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill Companies Inc. Johnson, D.W., & Johnson, F.P., (2009). Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills.Columbus, Ohio: Pearson.Martin & Nakayama. (2001). Experimenting with intercultural communication, p. 44.