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March 24, 2021 Category: Human Resources (3 minutes read)

Emotional Intelligence 101: What You Need to Know

Emotional Intelligence 101: What You Need to Know

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize and manage emotions. If you have it, nurture it, construct it, and develop an edge over others. Currently, emotional intelligence is trending amongst employers and leaders. It means that having EQ can be beneficial for your career advancement. 

According to Howard Gardner, a psychologist at Harvard University, emotional intelligence is your capacity to comprehend people and their emotions and determine their motivations to work cooperatively.

What are the Factors of Emotional Intelligence?

1. Self-Awareness

Self-awareness enables you to know how you feel and how it will impact the people around you. As a leader, being aware means to be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses and practicing humility. To be more self-aware, you can keep a journal and note down your thoughts about the day. You can also try slowing down and pondering why you acted a certain way in a given situation. 

2. Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is essential to prevent yourself from verbally attacking and stereotyping others and dismissing their values. It’s all about staying in control. Leaders who practice self-regulation are flexible, committed, and accountable for their actions. You can self-regulate yourself by being cognizant of how you act, and practice being calm. 

3. Motivation 

Self-motivated individuals have very high standards for the quality of work they do and expect others to deliver. To stay motivated, re-examine what you’re doing at your job. When we’re too invested in our work, we forget why we are working in the first place. Take a step back and see what motivates you in your current job and focus on that. Reset your goals and start to work to accomplish them. Be optimistic regardless of the setbacks and challenges you face and find at least one good thing that came out of the situation. Looking for that silver lining will keep you motivated. 

4. Empathy

Empathy is a critical factor in managing an organization or leading a team. It enables you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and help develop people who are struggling, challenge who is unfair, and give feedback to those who need it. To be more empathetic towards your team, learn to read their body language, and respond accordingly. 

5. Social Skills

Leaders with excellent social skills are great communicators. They’re open to good and bad news and make sure that they inform their team about it in the least damaging way possible. Excellent social skills also allow you to be good at conflict resolution – an essential skill for leaders. 

Why Does It Matter?

1. Career Success

A company with emotionally intelligent employees can contribute to its success. It makes for a positive work environment and motivates employees to give their best. 

2. Personal Development

EQ helps you understand yourself. The more self-aware you are, the more you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from others and understand them and respect their point of view. 

3. More Confidence

Bad emotional health results in low self-esteem. Most of the times, we depend on outside things to bring us happiness, while this is a good thing to do, it may leave you unsatisfied with yourself. With high EQ, you learn to be content in your default state, and it increases your self-confidence.

Your emotional intelligence can enable you to succeed in your professional life. It consists of simple skills and constant practice. Employers actively seek people with high EQ. 

If you believe you’re the one or are working on yourself, log on to Jobslog. We’re an online platform with leading companies posting vacancies from a range of industries, from healthcare and government to education and banking. Visit our website and create your profile today. 

Sources:

https://medium.com/the-mission/the-ultimate-guide-to-emotional-intelligence-to-be-happy-and-successful-in-a-brain-dead-world-5d050e316640#:~:text=Emotional Intelligence 101&text=Emotional Intelligence is the capacity,brain regions that process emotion.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/emotional-intelligence-101-jacqui-jagger