Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) refers to your capacity to identify and comprehend emotions within yourself and others, as well as utilize this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. It is different from cognitive intelligence, or IQ, and is not dependent on personality. EQ is the only quality that is flexible and able to change.

EQ encompasses four skills that can be paired into two essential competencies: personal competence and social competence. Personal competence entails the abilities of self-awareness and self-management, which focus more on the individual's emotions and behavior rather than their interactions with others.

Conversely, social competence is made up of social awareness and relationship management skills, which focus on understanding other people’s moods, behavior and motives in order to improve the quality of relationships.

Maximizing your EQ skills will have a wide-ranging, positive impact on your life. In fact, studies have shown that EQ is linked to higher earnings and greater success, so it's definitely something worth working on.

Self-awareness means being able to recognize and understand your emotions as they happen and knowing how you might react differently in different situations. It's like being in touch with your inner self and figuring out why you feel the way you do.

People with a high level of self-awareness have a good understanding of their strengths, what makes them happy and motivated, and which people and situations might push their buttons. Having this level of self-awareness is important in job performance too. Research shows that 83 percent of people high in self-awareness are top performers.

Being self-aware is like a building block for other emotional intelligence skills. When you have it, you're more likely to be successful in your personal and professional life. People who are more self-aware tend to be more satisfied with their lives, too, because they can set goals that align with their values and work towards them.

But sometimes, it's hard to be self-aware because we tend to stick to what feels comfortable and avoid what makes us uncomfortable. If we truly want to increase our sense of self-awareness, we need to be comfortable in recognizing our emotions as they are, our weaknesses and flaws, as well as our talents and strengths. This way, we can work towards achieving our full potential and becoming better versions of ourselves.

Self-management involves more than just controlling your impulses or avoiding problematic behavior. It is the capacity to navigate through uncertainty while regulating your emotions and behaviors to achieve your goals. Most importantly, it's about being to prioritize long-term goals over short-term desires.

Having good self-awareness is crucial to achieving self-management. It is the second key aspect of personal competence, and it involves managing your behavior and applying your skills effectively in various situations over time. By having good self-management skills, you'll be able to make more informed decisions and achieve your desired outcomes.

Social awareness is all about being able to read and understand other people's emotions accurately. It means being able to pick up on what's really going on with them by observing and listening carefully without letting your own thoughts and feelings get in the way.

It takes some practice to get good at it, but by paying attention to people's body language, their behaviors, and the way they speak, you can develop a pretty good sense of what they're thinking and feeling.

But it's not just about reading people's emotions - social awareness also means being an active part of the interaction. You have to be able to relate to what others are going through, build relationships, and recognize when someone is feeling upset or happy or anything in between. When you can do this, you can respond to others in a way that's thoughtful and respectful, and that helps you build better connections with those around you.

Relationship management is the ability to effectively handle interactions by using one's emotional awareness, both of oneself and others. Skilled individuals in this area recognize the value of building connections with a variety of people, even those they may not particularly like.

However, during stressful times, most individuals find relationship management to be their biggest challenge. This is because it is based on one's understanding of people, how they are treated, and the history they share. It is a product of the quality, depth, and time spent interacting with another person.

The importance of relationship management cannot be overstated in any organization. It involves the ability to empathize with others, adapt communication styles to suit different people, and recognize individuals' accomplishments. You can increase your EQ by enhancing the link between the emotional and rational centers of your brain.

Just like cars on a city street, information moves between the emotional and rational centers of your brain. When you work on your EQ skills, the traffic flows freely in both directions, thereby strengthening the connection between these two centers.

Establishing, building, and maintaining relationships are all part of the job, even if one works with just one other person. To achieve this, it's important to be open with them and share some information about yourself. Likewise, you should also be curious about others, but make sure to ask them questions in an appropriate setting and tone.

Trust is a crucial element in nurturing relationships, and although it takes time to build, investing effort in building it is always worth it. When you have good relationship management skills, it will be easier for you to work and connect, even with difficult people.

Self-management strategies are essential for managing emotions and staying focused. One of the most effective strategies is to make your goals public. By making your goals public, you create external expectations that can help push you toward success.

Another strategy is to use positive emotions like smiling and laughter to combat negative emotions and clear your mind. Additionally, it's important to acknowledge that change is inevitable and dedicate time to brainstorm a list of potential changes that may occur.

Finally, practicing mindfulness and empathy can improve social awareness. By being present in the moment and empathizing with others, you can develop a greater understanding of their perspective and build stronger relationships. Implementing these strategies can help you effectively navigate challenges and achieve your goals.