Have you ever worked with someone who is incredibly smart, but still struggles to lead, connect or even just get along with others? This could mean they have a high IQ, but unfortunately a low EQ (emotional intelligence.)
When it comes down to business, having a high IQ might look good on paper and get you in the door for potential opportunities, but having high emotional intelligence is what helps you improve how to respond to situations, build relationships, and improve communication skills and results.
Keep reading to fully understand:
- What Emotional Intelligence really is
- How you can effectively use it in both work and your personal life
- The 5 Key pillars of emotional intelligence
- How to boost your EQ in 6 practical steps
- Signs of low EQ
- Learn more in our YouTube video
What is Emotional Intelligence:
Emotional intelligence (or EQ as its often known) isn’t about how book smart you are, or how well you do in tests, its about your ability to be able to recognise, manage and influence emotions, both your own and in other people around you.
Whilst IQ measures general intelligence, which is an inborn ability and shows how successful you were in school, college, exams etc, EQ measures emotional intelligence.
EQ can be learned at any point in your life, and improved over time. Doing so ensures greater success in both the workplace and in your personal life.
EQ is Built on Five Key Pillars:
Self-awareness:
Knowing your emotions and how they affect yourself and how your actions can impact others around you. Being self aware ensures you are thinking of not just yourself, but the people you are dealing with.
Self-regulation:
Managing your reactions and staying in control when under pressure. Being able to self regulate ensures you are calm and don’t make any rash decisions based on your own emotions that could effect others negatively.
Motivation:
Being driven by purpose rather than status or reward. This pillar is needed to ensure you are aiming towards goals and staying consistent.
Empathy:
Understanding others perspectives and emotions by putting yourself in their shoes. This ensures you are able to relate to others and build stronger relationships through better communication.
Social skills:
Social skills are needed to properly manage relationships between you and others, as well as navigation social situations more efficiently. This ensures better communication, better conflict management and the ability to build stronger connections.
How to Improve your EQ in Six Easy Practical Steps:
As we’ve said you don’t need to be born with a high EQ, this can be learned and improved over time.
Here are six ways that you can do that.
1. You can practice self-reflection.
Think back on situations that have happened what went well and what could be improved?
2. You can cultivate self-awareness.
Start to understand how your actions and words impact others.
3. Develop empathy
Try put yourself in others shoes and see how situations would appear from their perspective. It may look different!
4. Improve your communication skills
Are you communicating well enough with everybody where you are getting your point across effectively?
5. Manage conflict
Rather than avoid conflict, manage it! Communicate your issues and listen closely to the other party. Don’t just let conflict build up and be forgotten.
6. Keep continuously learning and improving
Keep going and getting better. There’s no time limit on self-improvement.
Signs of a Low EQ:
Now let’s have a look at some signs of a low EQ and what to watch out for when dealing with others, or even yourself! Here are a few subtle ways you may be able to spot.
it could be:
- Struggling to express feelings,
- Missing social cues,
- Having very impulsive behaviour,
- A lack of empathy for others,
- Self-sabotaging when stressed,
- No self-awareness or accountability,
Emotional intelligence isn’t just a basic soft skill, it’s an asset that anyone in business should take the time to improve If they really want to see results and self improvement in themselves and their team.
Whether you’re leading a team, dealing with a low EQ manager, or trying to improve business and personal skills, your ability to manage emotions and communicate effectively will set you apart and position yourself as a high EQ expert!
Want to learn even more on emotional intelligence? Check out our YouTube video on the 5 Pillars of EQ by Daniel Goleman:
For more information on our personal and business skills training please contact Sales Training International on +44 (0) 1704 889325 or email info@salestrainingint.com for more information.
