The concept of emotional intelligence is key for short and long-term success in any professional role. You might be wondering what emotional intelligence actually is. It’s not simply being smart or knowing how to handle tough problems. It’s about how one understands their own emotions and the emotions of those around them. Empathy, understanding and managing feelings, and recognizing the emotional states of others are all part of this amazing concept.
Good news! Emotional intelligence is not something that is set in stone – you can learn and grow in this area, just like any other skill. Here are a few ways you can strengthen your emotional intelligence.
A big part of improving emotional intelligence is learning to listen and not just doing all the talking. By pushing our opinions aside and really hearing what other people are saying, we open ourselves up to new perspectives. Simple things like making eye contact, giving people our full attention, and repeating back, in our own words what someone has said can prove to us, and to them, that we are really listening.
Self-awareness is very essential too. Staying attuned to our own feelings and behaviors can help us notice when they’re affecting our work and interactions. Good or bad, being aware of our own emotions is key to understanding our responses to certain situations and it’s the first step to controlling those responses.
Exercise can improve more than just our physical health. Through activities like yoga and meditation, we’re able to process our feelings more effectively and lower our overall stress levels. These physical activities actually help our brain’s ability to manage stress and anxiety.
Remember the last time you were frustrated or upset about something. Maybe instead of exploring your feelings, you chose to vent to a friend or family. Journaling is a great alternative to this, providing us with an outlet to explore our emotions and experiences, without any judgement and interruptions.
Respecting the feelings of others is equally as important when boosting emotional intelligence. Recognize the negative or positive feelings of those around us and respect those feelings as valid, even if we don’t exactly understand where they’re coming from. And this doesn’t mean we have to solve everyone else’s problems, but simply acknowledging them can be enough.
By putting in effort and practicing these strategies, anyone can increase their emotional intelligence over time. This will not only lead to individual growth, but can also create healthier relationships, more effective communication, and overall improved professional and personal life.
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