Learn how to develop your emotional intelligence.
When you think about an effective leader, what characteristics come to mind? Chances are you picture someone who listens to their team. They stay cool under pressure, know when to trust their intuition, and they never let their emotions get the best of them. People like this have a high degree of emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence – or EI – is the ability to recognize your emotions, understand them, and see how they affect those around you. Having high emotional intelligence also means you understand other people’s emotions. This allows you to manage your relationships better, and avoid potential conflicts. There are five elements that define emotional intelligence.
The first is self-awareness. When you're self-aware, you know how you're feeling all of the time, and you understand how those feelings are affecting the people around you.
The second characteristic is self-regulation. This is the ability to control your emotions and actions. You can develop self-regulation by living your values, and by holding yourself accountable when you make a mistake.
The next element of emotional intelligence is motivation. Highly motivated people put off short-term rewards for long-term success.
The fourth element is empathy. This is when you have the ability to identify with other people, and understand their wants, needs, and viewpoints.
Finally, having good social skills is also critically important. This helps you work positively with other people, and manage conflict effectively.
Having high emotional intelligence is crucial in today's workplace. If you can build and maintain strong relationships, then you can work happily and productively with the people around you. It’s also one of the key attributes of being an effective leader.
You can find out more about how to develop your emotional intelligence in the article that accompanies this video.