Emotional Intelligence and its Importance
Emotional intelligence (EI) (also known as emotional quotient (EQ)) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions. The term was first coined in 1999 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey; however, it was later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman. Emotional intelligence is important to have in all domains of life and requires individuals to navigate their social and emotional skills. Having emotional intelligence can help you understand your own emotions, as well as others. It allows for stronger interpersonal relationships, effective communication, and better decision making.
There are four keys to emotional intelligence.
Self-Management: being able to control your own feelings, especially negative feelings, is important. If you’re able to adapt and cope with your emotions in healthy ways, (such as journaling, meditating, deep breathing, etc.) it is a sign of high emotional intelligence.
Self-Awareness: being self-aware of your thought patterns and behaviors—good and bad alike, is a good sign of high emotional intelligence. Realizing your strengths and weaknesses allows an opportunity to grow and change in ways that benefit your wellbeing.
Empathy: being an empathetic person refers to your ability to understand and share the feelings of others around you. Being able to empathize with someone is a superpower! You can pick up on emotional cues, connect with others on a deeper level, and foster strong relationships built on trust and understanding. Not everyone possesses these skills, but it is a strong indicator of high EI.
Social Skills: emotional intelligence builds on good social skills. To have good social skills doesn’t require you to be a huge extrovert or a people person. It requires things like effective communication, good conflict-resolution skills, working well in a team (especially with those who may not look like you), and the desire to maintain healthy relationships.
Do you pay attention to your emotions? What does that look like to you? When you feel stressed, what is the first thing that you do to make yourself feel better? How do you respond to others feeling stressed around you? When you are faced with an issue, how do you come to a solution? How do you communicate with others about your feelings? These are questions you can ask yourself to gauge or measure your emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is not just beneficial because it promotes different skills that are vital to personal growth, but it also makes it easier to navigate life’s challenges.
Reference
HelpGuide.org.
Improving Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Manage Emotions to Build Better Relationships and Achieve Success.
https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/emotional-intelligence-eq