What is Emotional Intelligence?
The ability to comprehend one’s own emotions as well as the emotions of others and to use this awareness to effectively control one’s own behaviour and relationships is known as emotional intelligence (EI). It includes skills such as emotional awareness, empathy, self-regulation, and social skills.
Emotional intelligence is different from IQ (intelligence quotient), which is a measure of a person’s cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and logical reasoning. While IQ is important, research has shown that EI can be a better predictor of success in life, particularly in terms of social and emotional well-being.
There are several ways to develop and improve emotional intelligence, including:
- Paying attention to your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behaviours
- Practising empathy and trying to understand the perspective of others
- Managing your own emotions, particularly negative ones such as anger and anxiety
- Building and maintaining healthy relationships
Improving emotional intelligence can benefit both personal and professional relationships and can lead to increased success and well-being.
Emotional intelligence aids us personally by:
- Talk about tough topics without offending others
- When under pressure or feeling overwhelmed, we control our emotions.
- Strengthening bonds with the individuals, we care about
We can benefit from emotional intelligence at work by:
- Resolve disputes
- Mentor and inspire others
- Establish a collaborative culture
- Enhance team psychological safety
Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in the areas of communication and conflict management, which are essential abilities in the job, are correlated with high EI. Employees who are able to control their emotions are frequently able to avoid making impulsive decisions because they deliberate before acting. Working in teams requires empathy and understanding; being able to connect someone’s actions to an underlying feeling can improve relationship management and help others feel heard. On a personal level, the first step in preventing those feelings from controlling you is becoming aware of them. You can sit with your feelings and then move on in a healthy way by acknowledging how and why you feel what you feel.