Akamai Skills
Akamai relationship skills teach youth fundamental skills to apply in all their social interactions. Whether with peers or adults relationship skills are key to student academic and social success.
The first skill in becoming smart in all our relationship interactions is active listening. Using the Repeat, Check, Ask (RCA) listening we demonstrate our active listening. R is for Repeat back what I heard you say; C is for check, did I get it correct; and A is for to ask is there more to be heard. Using active listening we demonstrate care for and understanding of the speaker. Being heard and understand is basic to building human connection and empathy. Applying RCA active listening helps youth prevent misunderstanding which leads to conflicts and solve differences through shared understanding.
The second smart skill is sharing appreciation. Learning to give appreciations support connection and positive interaction with youth and adults. It counters the destructive habit of finding fault or looking for what’s wrong with others. By looking for and expressing appreciation for others in our life we develop and promote a youth culture of positive connection and positive communication. The principle of giving a smart appreciation is threefold. One, to ask the person you want to appreciate if I can give them an appreciation. Two, to pick a single specific sincere quality or attribute you appreciate/enjoy about the other person. Three, to describe what you appreciated gives you. What is it about what you appreciate that contributes to your wellbeing.
The third smart skill is Smart Requests. Skillful requesting, saying what we want with or from others supports connection and heart felt giving and receiving. How to increase our chance of getting to yes comes from revealing what is behind our request. Why our request is important to us. What it will give us if our request is fulfilled. Too often we are disappointed in the response to our requests because we have failed in providing the information that they needed to say yes. Smart Request teaches the skill in making connecting requests with others.
The fourth smart skill is Power Apology. We all make mistakes and sometimes hurt others. Knowing how to make repairs when we have caused hurt and restore the relationship is an important skills for all our relationships. An apology can be so much more than Iʻm sorry. It can be deepening of trust and plan to do better in the future. A Power Apology can grow our relationships as well as repair them.
The fifth smart skill is handling conflict in positive and productive ways. Conflict is not easy but an unavoidable and meaningful aspect of all relationships. Learning what conflict is and how to behave during conflict supports finding mutually satisfying solutions. Peace is not the absence of conflict but handling conflict peacefully.