Emotional intelligence is the single biggest predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence.
Your emotional intelligence is the foundation for a host of critical skills—it impacts most everything you say and do each day. 90% of top performers are high in emotional intelligence. People with a high degree of emotional intelligence make more money than people with a low degree of emotional intelligence.
SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?
Known as EI or EQ, Emotional intelligence is a flexible set of skills that can be acquired and improved with practice. Although some people are naturally more emotionally intelligent than others, you can develop high emotional intelligence even if you aren't born with it.
Consistently practicing the following steps will allow you to begin harnessing the power of your emotions:
- Be observant of your own emotions and the emotions of others
- Use ‘the pause button’ – think first, act later
- Explore the ‘why’ – show empathy and compassion
- When criticised, don’t take offence. Instead, ask: What can I learn?
- Practice – consistently practicing these steps will allow you to begin harnessing the power of emotion – and use that power to work for you, instead of against you.
Emotional Intelligence can be a key to success in your life – especially in your career. The ability to manage your emotions and relationships is very important. Although "regular" or IQ intelligence is important to success in life, Emotional Intelligence is key to relating well to others and achieving your goals.
Working on your emotional intelligence could well be the most important aspect of your personal and career development. Research has shown that people with higher levels of Emotional Intelligence enjoy more satisfying and successful careers and relationships. If you think about ways to enhance your emotional intelligence, you are likely to become more interesting and attractive to others, and you will also give your self-esteem a boost.
THERE ARE FIVE ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
1. Self-awareness
People with high EI are usually very self-aware. They understand their emotions, and because of this, they don't let their feelings rule them. They're confident – because they trust their intuition and don't let their emotions get out of control.They're also willing to take an honest look at themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses, and they work on these areas so they can perform better. Many people believe that this self-awareness is the most important part of Emotional Intelligence.
2. Empathy
This is perhaps the second-most important element of Emotional Intelligence. Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand the wants, needs, and viewpoints of those around you. People with empathy are good at recognising the feelings of others, even when those feelings may not be obvious. As a result, empathetic people are usually excellent at managing relations, listening, and relating to others. They avoid stereotyping and judging too quickly, and they live their lives in a very open, honest way.
3. Self-regulation
This is the ability to control your emotions and impulses. People who self-regulate typically don't allow themselves to become too angry or jealous, and they don't make impulsive, careless decisions. They think before they act. Characteristics of self-regulation are thoughtfulness, comfort with change, integrity and the ability to say no.
4. Motivation
People with a high degree of EI are usually motivated. They're willing to defer immediate results for long-term success. They're highly productive, love a challenge, and are very effective in whatever they do.
5. Social skills
It's usually easy to talk to and like people with good social skills, another sign of high Emotional Intelligence. Those with strong social skills are typically team players. Rather than focus on their own success first, they help others develop and shine. They can manage disputes; are excellent communicators; and are masters at building and maintaining relationships.
So, how emotionally intelligent are you? Take the free test below.
“What really matters for success, character, happiness and life long achievements is a definite set of emotional skills - your EQ - not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests.” Daniel Goleman