Learning Emotional Intelligence
Professional attitude in a business setting is a must in any field of work. No matter how stressful the situation is, a good employee is expected to be able to think clearly and make sound decisions that are beneficial to everyone involved. That is why learning about emotional intelligence is essential in achieving success. To put it simply, emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) is the ability to understand and utilize your emotions appropriately and to perceive other people’s emotions. Having a high level of emotional intelligence will not only get your clients to see you in a positive light but will also make your coworker happy to be working with you. Here are several ways to learn emotional intelligence.
Be a good listener
Listening to what others have to say is a good practice to do in our daily life. We can learn something from their story and at the same time get closer to our friend or coworker. However, what truly important is whether we actually understand what the other person is trying to convey or just immediately forget what they were saying the moment the conversation ends. When you are in a conversation, make sure to pay attention without being distracted. Encourage them to share more of their story by giving sounds of confirmation such as “uh-huh”, or give a summary of what they have been saying so far to also make sure that what you are hearing is right. Do not interrupt their story by inserting your opinion and wait until they finish making their point to ask questions. If they ask for an opinion or advice, be honest and thoughtful in giving your response.
Empathize with others
To be able to understand other people, first you have to be able to empathize with them. Do not easily leap to judgement about someone else. Every one of us comes from different walk of life and it is important to try to walk in other people’s shoe so that you can see from their point of view. When you dislike somebody or having trouble with others, try to analyze your own emotions. Are they the one at fault? Are your behavior driven from your own prejudice and bias? Or is there something else? Showing understanding is key to build a deep and long-lasting relationship.
Improve self-awareness
Being able to understand yourself is essential for you to be able to properly recognize and manage your emotions in any kind of situations. Many of us often either underestimate or overestimate ourselves, and that leads to less than ideal results. Do not be afraid to admit your weakness to yourself because from that acceptance can you start to improve yourself. Take time to reflect on your action and think on how it affects others. Look back at how you react when under heavy pressure or in stressful situations, and then learn from them so that you can do better next time. People who know themselves well know what their capabilities and limits are, which they will take into consideration when making a decision. This process will most likely bring better results.
Take responsibility and apologize
Just like the point before, you should not be afraid to admit your weakness. The same goes for when you make a mistake. It might be tempting to sweep your problems and mistakes under the rug, especially if no one notices it, or just to avoid the person you have wronged. However, the longer you delay, the worse a problem usually becomes. Therefore, the moment you realize that you messed up, show responsibility by immediately apologize to all of those affected. After that, show that you really mean it through action, which is by doing better. It shows a level of maturity and honesty that others will definitely appreciate.
Learning emotional intelligence is not an easy task. It takes time and often requires you to look deep into yourself. It even needs you to admit the worst thing about yourself for you to be able to move forward. However, when you get to the point where you can regulate your emotions in a highly stressful environment, you know the process is worth it. Emotional intelligence is vital for you to be able to create close bonds with other people and to gain their respect. Do not let your emotion control you and instead use them in a way that best suited you.