Do you know that Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI) is one of the strongest indicators of success in business? It is because EQ is not only the ability to identify and deal with your own emotions but also the ability to become aware of others’ emotions. There is plethora of research on emotions and how to develop emotional intelligence . A study by Johnson & Johnson reveals that the highest performers at work are those who demonstrate a higher emotional intelligence. Another study conducted by Talent Smart shows that 90% of high performers in the workplace possess high EQ. On the other hand, 80% of low performers have low EQ. In other words, your emotional intelligence matters more than you think. It is, therefore, important to develop emotional intelligence in the workplace to improve relationships and enhance performance.
Like IQ, emotional intelligence also varies from one person to another. While some people naturally have the ability to understand and step into other people’s shoes, others may require a little effort to build their emotional skills.
Develop Emotional Intelligence – Build Stronger Relationships
Below are six ways to Develop your emotional intelligence
Get Fluent in The Language of Emotions
It is imperative for you to be emotionally literate in order for you to improve EQ. This is dual-faceted. One part of it involves naming emotions specifically so you are able to differentiate between similar emotions like feeling sad versus overwhelmed. The other part of it is knowing the profile of each emotion so you understand its message clearly. You may practice mindfulness to gain perspective on your feelings so you can manage negative emotions and harness positive ones. Becoming mindful of the words you use will allow you to develop empathy for others, which cements existing relationships and helps you build new ones. Moreover, when your emotional sharpness increases, you become more resilient to challenges.
Once you understand the emotion, it becomes easier to cope with it.
Appreciate Your Emotions
Always remember, your emotions are never wrong. They are there to support you, so you have to be honest about how you feel. Learning to validate your own feelings lets you validate others’ emotions, which is a core component of practicing empathy.
Empathy can be a little difficult to achieve, but here are a few things you can do to develop emotional intelligence and one of its most integral part. Learn to listen effectively to both the non-verbal and verbal messages of others, including body gestures and physical signs of emotions. Ask other people questions to find out more about what they are feeling and take feedback to clarify you’ve understood their feelings clearly. Even if you disagree with someone, respect and acknowledge the feelings of others even if you disagree. Don’t make judgmental or belittling statements.
Get Confident
In order to gain confidence in mastering your emotions, think of a time you successfully grappled with a similar feeling in the past. Assure yourself: if you can do it once, you can do it twice. As you bolster confidence in your previous successes, you’ll be able to navigate uncertain land with certainty.
As a matter of fact, many of your social skills are deeply rooted in personal confidence and self-esteem. By improving your social skills, you become a good listener, a trustworthy and an approachable person. This in turn builds up your own confidence, making it easier for you to have a greater acceptance and a better understanding of your emotions, which thereby develops your emotional intelligence .
Recognize Recurring Patterns
Let’s dive a little into neuroscience. Our brain tends to follow neural pathways, which is why we have a natural tendency to form and follow patterns. This, however, doesn’t mean that all our patterns are doing us good or we cannot change the ones that aren’t. For instance, when some of us get angry, we bottle it up. Becoming aware of these patterns and recognizing them in yourself will allow us to change our course and efficiently respond rather than react to conflicts.
Feel Certain You Can Face the Future
If you want to face your feelings in the future bravely, it is important for you to rehearse how you would want to deal with a difficult emotion. Leverage your previous successes as a resource to improve and enhance emotional intelligence . Preparing yourself beforehand for the future challenges will strengthen the feelings of self-efficacy, so you can face the challenges head-on.
Bounce Back from Adversity
Every one of us encounters challenges but the important part is to rise to them, so we don’t get driven on the path of meltdown. Let’s face it: positive thinking sets you up for success. To triumph over anxiety, adopt the habit of practicing optimism instead of complaining. Whenever you face adversity, ask yourself what could be learned from this situation. Make sure you ask constructive questions to gain something positive from the challenge at hand.
