Emotional Intelligence: “The ability to perceive and express emotion, assimilate emotion in thought, understand and reason with emotion, and regulate emotion in the self and others.” — Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso
Emotional Intelligence – What is it?
By now, we have all heard the term Emotional Intelligence. But what is it really and why is it important?
At its most basic, Emotional Intelligence (alternately referred to as “EQ” – as in “emotional IQ”) can be understood as the ability to understand, express, and control your emotions, as well as have an awareness of other people’s emotional responses, and using this understanding to effectively navigate interpersonal relationships.
We all have that relative or acquaintance that reacts explosively to every one of life’s little annoyances, or who seems to be reduced to uncontrollable tears when everything isn’t going perfectly. These people seem to be unable to self-regulate their emotional states, or even possibly be unaware of them; they have little understanding of how their emotional affects those around them. In a nutshell, they have very low emotional intelligence.
To be around such people can exhausting; to BE those people is probably even worse.
Obviously, for those emotional timebombs, delving into EQ training could vastly improve the quality of their lives, their relationships, and even their ability to succeed in their career. But what about individuals that don’t approach life with an emotional hair-trigger? Does EI training have anything to offer?
Is EI for me?
-As much as 80% of adult “success” comes from EQ. — Daniel Goleman
Emotional intelligence means a lot more than being able to keep yourself from having a temper tantrum on your challenging days. Possessing a high EQ means you are self-aware, and able to regulate your emotional state, and that you can express your emotions appropriately; you know how to identify your motives and goals, and can work towards those ends without stepping on others, or falling into destructive habits. Perhaps most importantly, possessing a high emotional intelligence means you can build healthy and productive relationship with others, collaborating for the good of yourself and your community.
Sounds nice, but what’s the payout?
Get that job – Emotional Intelligence is now a determining factor in hiring for many corporations. It is generally viewed by HR departments as a better gauge of future success than past work experience. Possessing a high EQ often means the difference between getting that job or promotion, or being passed over for another applicant.
Get that love – When you are better able to communicate your needs, and are able to anticipate or meet the emotional needs of other, it is much easier to build healthy relationships. This can mean romantic relationships, of course, but it also means building a stronger support network at work, as well as being able to foster friendships with people who you know will “have your back.” It can even help you find the means to navigate relationships with those emotional timebombs, so that they don’t blow up in your direction.
Get that influence – Emotional intelligence allows you to better read others and understand their reactions, as well as their motivations. You will also have the skills to communicate effectively, and adjust how you present your ideas, so that you can get more buy-in. These can be key factors when you need to move people from a “No” to a “Yes.”
Get that happiness – We all want to be happy, right? Knowing how to get there is another matter, entirely. This is an area in which Emotional Intelligence training can be helpful. An Emotional Intelligence training course can give you the techniques to build a roadmap to achieve a happy and content life. And who wouldn’t want that?
Get the Skills
AdvantEdge Training & Consulting can help you develop the skills you need to increase your emotional intelligence to gain more success in both your work and personal life.
