Developing Emotional Intelligence

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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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