Cut the friction. Keep the flow.

I’m an introvert. I like interactions with people to be easy, friction-free. That’s probably why I’m obsessed with emotional intelligence. I listen, I read people, I understand what they need from me and more importantly I work to communicate with them in a way that allows them to actually hear what I’m saying. This reduces friction in work and life.

When I talk about human-friction, I’m referring to any time an interaction between people doesn’t flow. It might be a disagreement, a misunderstanding or a miscommunication, anything that knocks that interaction off track.

We all operate on a set of social norms, an unspoken rhythm of how things are ‘supposed’ to work. Friction shows up when something falls outside of that rhythm.

And here’s the key: friction isn’t always bad. Sometimes it’s necessary. But it always costs energy. It takes more effort to navigate those moments. That’s where emotional intelligence comes in, not to erase the friction, but to work through it with clarity, empathy, and intention.