Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is the ability to perceive, interpret, display, monitor, evaluate and use emotions to effectively and constructively communicate with and relate to others. This ability to express and manage emotions is essential, as is the ability to understand, interpret and respond to the emotions of others.
“While literacy helps you ace a test, emotional intelligence prepares you for the real world by being aware of the emotions of others and your own.” – Hannah Owens
How do you know if you are emotionally intelligent?
Some key signs and examples of emotional intelligence are:
- the ability to recognize and describe people’s feelings,
- awareness of personal strengths and limitations,
- self-confidence and self-acceptance ,
- the ability to forgive mistakes,
- the ability to accept and accept change,
- a strong sense of curiosity, especially about other people,
- a sense of empathy and concern for others,
- sensitivity to other people’s feelings,
- accepting responsibility for mistakes,
- the ability to control emotions in difficult situations.
How is emotional intelligence measured?
There are several types of tests available to measure the level of emotional intelligence. Some rely on self-reports, while others measure demonstrated emotional intelligence skills.
Self-report tests are the most common because they are the easiest to administer and evaluate. In these tests, respondents answer questions or statements by rating their own behavior. For example, for a statement such as ‘I often feel that I understand how others feel’, the test taker can describe the statement as disagree, partly disagree, agree or strongly agree.
Aptitude tests, on the other hand, involve people responding to situations and then assessing their skills. Such tests often require people to demonstrate their abilities, which are then assessed by a third party.
The four components of emotional intelligence
Researchers believe that there are four different levels of emotional intelligence , including emotional perception, the ability to reason with emotions, the ability to understand emotions, and the ability to manage emotions.
1. Perceiving Emotions: The first step in understanding emotions is to perceive them accurately. In many cases, this can include understanding non-verbal signals such as body language and facial expressions.
. Expressing emotions: The next step involves using emotions to stimulate thinking and cognitive activities. Emotions help set the priorities we pay attention to and respond to; we respond emotionally to things that attract our attention.
3. Understanding emotions: The emotions we perceive can have different meanings. If someone expresses angry feelings, the observer must explain the cause of his anger and what it might mean. For example, if your boss is acting angry, it could mean that he is unhappy with your work, but it could also be because he got a speeding ticket on the way to work in the morning or because he had a fight with his partner.
4. Managing Emotions: The ability to effectively manage emotions is a key part of emotional intelligence and the highest level. Regulating emotions and responding appropriately and responding to the emotions of others are important aspects of managing emotions.
“Recognizing emotions—your own and others’—can help you understand where other people are coming from, what decisions they make, and how your emotions can affect other people.” – Hannah Owens
The four branches of this model are arranged in order of complexity, with basic processes at lower levels and more advanced processes at higher levels. For example, the lowest levels involve the perception and expression of emotions, while the higher levels require greater conscious involvement and regulation of emotions.
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Why is emotional intelligence useful?
In recent years, interest in teaching and learning social and emotional intelligence has increased.
The goal of these initiatives is not only to improve health and well-being, but also to help students achieve academically and prevent bullying. There are many examples of how emotional intelligence can play an important role in everyday life.
Thinking before reacting
Emotionally intelligent people know that emotions can be strong but also temporary.
When a highly charged emotional event occurs, such as anger at a co-worker, emotionally intelligent people respond by taking a few moments before reacting. In this way, everyone can calm their emotions and think more rationally about all the factors that accompany the argument.
Greater self-awareness
Emotionally intelligent people not only think about how other people feel, but also understand their own emotions. Self-awareness allows people to consider the many different factors that contribute to their emotions.
Empathy for others
A large part of emotional intelligence is the ability to think about and empathize with other people’s feelings. This often involves thinking about how you would react if you were in the same situation.
People with high emotional intelligence are able to take other people’s viewpoints, experiences, and emotions into account and use this information to explain why people behave the way they do.
How you can practice emotional intelligence
You can use emotional intelligence in different ways in your everyday life. Among others, we include:
- the ability to accept criticism and responsibility,
- the ability to move forward after a mistake,
- know how to say no when necessary,
- the ability to share one’s feelings with others,
- the ability to solve problems in a way that works for everyone,
- compassion for other people,
- have excellent listening skills ,
- knowing why you do the things you do
- don’t judge others.
Emotional intelligence is essential for good interpersonal communication. Some experts believe that this ability is more important to success in life than the IQ itself. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to strengthen your social and emotional intelligence.
Understanding emotions can be the key to better relationships, better well-being and better communication skills.
Consequences of a low level of emotional intelligence
Poorer emotional intelligence skills can lead to a number of potential pitfalls that can affect multiple areas of life, including work and relationships.
People who have poorer emotional skills are more likely to get into fights, have lower quality relationships and poorer skills in managing emotions.
How to increase your emotional intelligence?
Although some people acquire their emotional abilities naturally, some evidence suggests that it is an ability that you can develop and improve.
For example, a 2019 randomized controlled trial found that even education about emotional intelligence can improve emotional skills in the workplace.
Here are some tips to improve your emotional intelligence:
1. Listen: If you want to understand what other people are feeling, the first step is to pay attention. Take the time to listen to what people are trying to tell you, both verbally and non-verbally. Body language can carry a lot of meaning. When you sense that someone is feeling a certain way, consider the various factors that could be contributing to that emotion.
2. Empathy : Knowing about emotions is crucial, but we also need to be able to empathize with the other person in order to truly understand their point of view. Practice compassion for other people. Imagine how you would feel in their position. Such activities can help us build an emotional understanding of a certain situation and develop stronger emotional skills in the long run.
3. Think : The ability to think with emotions is an important part of emotional intelligence. Consider how your own emotions influence your decisions and behavior. When you think about how other people react, consider how their emotions play a role.
Why does this person feel this way? Are there any unseen factors that could be contributing to these feelings? How are your feelings different from theirs? By exploring such questions, you may gain a better understanding of the role that emotions play in people’s thinking and behavior.
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Famous quotes about emotional intelligence
“When dealing with people, remember that you are not dealing with logical beings, but with emotional beings.” – Dale Carnegie
“I realized that people will forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
“Highly sensitive people are too often seen as weaklings and unbalanced. However, intense emotion is not a sign of weakness, it is a characteristic of truly alive and compassionate people. It is not the empath who is broken, but the society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally handicapped. Expressing genuine emotions is not shameful. Those who are sometimes labeled as ‘deranged’ or having ‘self-problems’ are the ones who maintain the dream of a more humane world. Do not be ashamed of the tears that enlighten this world.” – Anthony St. Maarten
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