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>> Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, interpret,
and process emotions in yourself and others.
While genetics, upbringing, and environment all play a role, there are steps you can take
to develop your emotional intelligence over time.
Get to know yourself.
Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware.
They have a realistic appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses
and how they come across to others.
Peer feedback is one way of improving your self-awareness
and may uncover a few of your emotional blind spots.
Learn your triggers.
Linked to the notion of self-awareness is knowing how you are likely
to respond in particular situations.
Think about how you felt the last time you were under pressure.
Did these feelings help or hinder you?
Recognizing emotions and the source of these emotions can shift your emotional state.
Empathize.
Seeing things from someone else's perspective will help you understand their values
and beliefs.
This is important when it comes to motivating and engaging others.
Make a conscious effort to get to know your colleagues.
Ask open questions and actively listen to what they have to say,
rather than simply waiting for your turn to speak.
Be on the lookout for body language and other nonverbal signs, as these may tell you more
than someone is willing to express out loud.
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Own your emotions your emotions.
Part of being emotionally intelligent is about taking responsibility
for the way you interact with others.
If someone upsets you, pause and reflection why their actions lead you
to feel this way instead of reacting impulsively.
Recognize that a conversation is a two-way interaction, and it takes two people
to make you angry, sad, or frustrated.
Go with your gut.
Finally, listen to your body.
If your stomach starts doing back flips every time you speak to a senior manager
or your muscles tense up before you go into a meeting, what does this tell you?
Counterintuitive as it might seem, the emotions can be a valuable source of information
when making rational decisions at work.
Remember, emotional intelligence isn't about suppressing emotions.
It's about learning how to recognize, process,
and channel them in a way that benefits you and your team.
Enhancing your emotional intelligence requires effort,
but it can be achieved with sustained practice.
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