Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a different type of intelligence. EQ is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage your emotions in positive and constructive ways. It’s about recognizing your own emotional state and the emotional state of others. Research shows that emotional intelligence matters more that intellectual ability when it comes to success at work.
We all know someone who is academically brilliant yet socially inept and unsuccessful. What they are missing is emotional intelligence. EQ consists of four core abilities: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
Self-awareness is the ability to know how your own emotions affect your thoughts and behaviors. Self-management is the ability to control impulsive feelings and behaviors. The ability to understand the emotions, needs and concerns of others is social awareness. And finally, the ability to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team and manage conflict is relationship management.
These skills aid in working with diverse personalities on a daily basis in all types of jobs. A high EQ is essential if you want to successfully move up the career ladder into a position where you manage others.
You cannot simply read about EQ in order to master it. Emotional intelligence must be learned and understood on an emotional level. The development of EQ depends on sensory, nonverbal learning and real-life practice as we connect with others.
You can boost your “EQ” by learning how to rapidly reduce stress, connect to your emotions, communicate non-verbally, use humor and play to deal with challenges, and defuse conflicts with confidence and self-assurance.
A REAL Colors workshop is a great to increase your EQ through understanding ourselves and others.
