Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is arguably one of the most important tools you’ll need in life. From personal life to workplace performance, it’s key to accelerating success. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage your own emotions and understand those of the people around you. It’s often considered a driving force behind a person’s confidence, making sound decisions, building connections, navigating complex social situations, being optimistic and exercising self-control during challenging times. Emotional intelligence is a crucial component of leadership. Research shows that 90% of top performers in the workplace have high emotional intelligence. While some people are naturally more adept at emotional intelligence, EI can be learned, developed and enhanced. If you’re wondering how to increase your emotional intelligence, we have you covered. In this article we’ll dive more into what emotional intelligence is, the components of EI and how to improve it, no matter what chapter of life you’re in. What Is Emotional Intelligence?In a nutshell, emotional intelligence is how well individuals identify and manage their own emotions and react to the emotions of others. It’s understanding how those emotions shape your thoughts and actions so you can have greater control over your behavior and develop the skills to manage yourself more effectively. OriginsThe term emotional intelligence was originally used by researchers, Peter Salavoy and John Mayer, in their 1990 article “Emotional Intelligence” found in the journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality. The concept was popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman in his 1995 book Emotional Intelligence. Research continues to evolve in the field of emotional intelligence. Emotional Intelligence ModelsThere are various models of emotional intelligence. These include: Ability Models: These models “define emotional intelligence as the ability to perceive, understand, manage and use emotions.” Trait Models: These models view EI as a naturally occurring set of emotional traits and competencies.Mixed Models: These models see emotional intelligence as combined traits and abilities, plus acquired skills and strategies. Emotional intelligence can be assessed using different tests based on various models. For example, the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) is based on an ability model, the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) was developed based on a trait model and the Emotional Competency Inventory (ECBI) derived from a mixed model. Core Components Of Emotional Intelligence & How To Improve Them Why is emotional intelligence important? As we’ll dive into below, EI can be a critical component in understanding yourself and others, relating to people in your personal and professional spheres, communicating effectively, making decisions, handling stress and more. Four key components of good emotional intelligence include: self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness and good social skills. You can improve these through simple methods you can incorporate into your everyday life. Self-AwarenessSelf-awareness is the foundation of emotional

Statements of factsAsking questions to paint a clearer picture of the situationUsing active listening to show the other person they’re being heardConflict management is about teamwork, respect, adaptability, communication, and collaboration. A high EQ allows you to lead conversations toward team goals, values, and opportunities to craft a win-win solution. Read: The best conflict resolution strategy you’re not using9. When in doubt, reflectA big part of developing your emotional intelligence in the workplace is understanding emotions in the moment. But reflecting on past experiences helps you build emotional intelligence in the long term. By recognizing past habits, or looking at previous emotional situations with your new emotional know-how under your belt, you can better prepare for future situations.Why is emotional intelligence important in the workplace?Research has shown that emotional intelligence is equally important, or sometimes even more important, than traditional intelligence. According to a 2016 study, having high emotional intelligence was a better predictor of effective teamwork than having a high IQ. Additional studies have shown that high emotional intelligence leads to better job performance and leadership. Emotional intelligence is all about understanding your own emotions and the emotions of others. High emotional intelligence helps you:Effectively collaborate with your team membersThink before acting or reacting Reduce your gut reaction or impulseOvercome issues—both at home and in the workplaceManage conflictsCommunicate in the workplaceSolve problemsBuild stronger relationshipsConnect with your emotionsEmpathize with othersBuild synergy between yourself and your peersEmotional intelligence modelsThere are two main models of emotional intelligence. The first, developed by Daniel Goleman, includes five key attributes of EQ. The second, created by John Mayer and Peter Salovey, describes four main characteristics of emotional intelligence. Daniel Goleman’s 5 attributes of emotional intelligenceGoleman identified five key skills within EI, or emotional intelligence: Self-awareness: The ability to understand your own emotions. Being self-aware means

Around you, there are many ways to develop in this area. Improving emotional intelligence is a continuous journey with many challenges, but persistence is crucial for growth—both personally and professionally. Emotional Intelligence FAQsIf you need a quick run-through of the importance of EI and how to improve it, these FAQS can help. Why Are Emotional Intelligence Skills Important? Emotional intelligence skills are important in understanding and reacting to both our own emotions and the emotions of others. It can help us have healthier, more empathetic responses and reactions, improve our decision-making skills, improve communication, forge stronger relationships and achieve goals. It can enhance our personal well-being as well as our interactions in the workplace. It can also help us excel in leadership, create stronger team dynamics and encourage nurturing, collaborative environments. Can Emotional Intelligence Be Learned? Different models of emotional intelligence focus on different aspects. Some focus primarily on ability, some on natural traits and some on mixed aspects that include both ability, traits and learned skills. Regardless of the theory, however, people can learn to improve or develop their emotional intelligence by fostering self-awareness, regulating their emotions and improving social awareness and social skills, including empathy, conflict management and active listening.How Is Emotional Intelligence Measured? Emotional intelligence can be measured using a number of different EI assessments, such as the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) and the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i 2.0). However, other methods can be used to assess emotional intelligence, including observation of behavior, feedback from others and performance-based tests.Photo by Roman Samborskyi/shutterstock.com

SummaryEmotional intelligence is the ability to accurately understand your emotions and recognize others’. It’s a critical soft skill for effective collaboration, interpersonal relationships, and good communication. In this article, we’ll discuss nine tips to help raise your emotional intelligence and why this skill is crucial for workplace relationships.Emotional intelligence is more important than ever. High IQ and professional expertise are important, but to grow and evolve in your field, you also need to be able to collaborate and communicate with coworkers—not to mention manage your reactions when faced with conflict.In fact, emotional intelligence is four times more reliable than IQ in determining success in your field. In this article, we’ll cover what emotional intelligence is and how you can use it to improve your workplace relationships. See Asana in actionDrive clarity and impact at scale by connecting work and workflows to company-wide goals.Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize, regulate, and understand emotions—both in yourself and in others. High emotional intelligence helps you:Connect with othersBuild empathetic connectionsCommunicate effectivelyNavigate conflictExpress your feelingsImprove your overall mental healthIt often feels like emotional intelligence is a personality trait—it’s something you either have or don’t have. But just like your intelligence quotient (IQ), your emotional intelligence can be developed over time.9 ways to foster your emotional intelligence in the workplaceThere are several key competencies you can practice to develop emotional intelligence at work. Below, we’ll dive into each skill, as well as the practical workplace tools you can use to build them.1. Develop self-awarenessThe first step toward improving your emotional intelligence at work is to know yourself. A big part of EQ is acknowledging and understanding your emotions, and the influence those emotions have on your surroundings. But before you can recognize the impact, you need to identify the source of your emotions and

On others. Fostering a collaborative environment and promoting a culture of learning and growth. Emotional Intelligence And LeadershipGood emotional intelligence is necessary for good leadership and must be continuously honed. You can have all the technical skills in the world, but if you aspire to be in a leadership role, there’s an emotional element to consider. Strong emotional intelligence in leaders can have many powerful benefits for the workplace or other group dynamics. These include: Better ability for leaders to handle workplace relationshipsCreating more positive group dynamicsEnhancing collaboration and communicationLeadership making more empathetic decisions that considers the needs and perspectives of employees or groups Building trust among colleagues or teams Enabling leaders to handle conflict in a more productive mannerAddressing potential burnout among employeesRecognizing and appreciating employees’ effortsApproaching change with positivityEstablishing greater overall employee engagement When leaders improve emotional intelligence, it can lead to greater effectiveness as a leader, more team cohesion and improved relationships. Continuing to revisit and improve your emotional intelligence can help you become a stronger, more capable leader. Emotional Intelligence In The Workplace Emotional intelligence can also be crucial in the workplace. No matter what position a person is in, good EI could help with: Problem-solvingRegulating emotionsEmpathizing and relating to coworkersIncreasing collaboration and teamwork Building trust Effective communication Better decision-makingImproved performance Improving Your Emotional Intelligence In Everyday Conversations Improving your emotional intelligence might look like adopting some of these phrases (and meaning it).1. “Could you tell me more about that?”Communicating in a way that encourages people to talk about their feelings and experiences shows you care about their feelings, and you can use their responses as a learning opportunity.2. “I hear you.”By telling someone that you hear them or understand them, you create a cooperative environment that is perfect for team-building.3. “I understand what you’re saying, but…”This phrase highlights another important aspect of emotional intelligence: the ability to remain diplomatic even if one doesn’t agree with someone. 4. “I’m not sure what’s wrong. Could you explain the problem?”This phrase acknowledges someone is having an issue, and instead of reacting negatively, you invite them to share their thoughts.5. “How do you feel about that?”This phrase expresses empathy and helps people feel acknowledged and respected.6. “I’d love your input on this.”Asking for input or expressing openness allows someone else to feel proud of themselves, making them think very positively about you.Improve Your EI To Thrive Personally And Professionally Concepts like self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills and social awareness are the foundation of emotional intelligence. Mastering these will help you make massive strides in life, and you can start with simple steps and actions. From increasing self-awareness through mindfulness to learning how to communicate using high emotional intelligence with others