Finding success at work takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and skill. But it also takes something else: emotional intelligence.
Highlights
- Emotional intelligence (EI) involves perceiving, understanding, and managing emotions.
- EI is crucial for self-awareness and understanding others, aiding in workplace challenges.
- Key EI traits include managing emotional responses and showing empathy.
- Developing EI involves practicing self-awareness and effective communication.
- Staying calm under pressure is an important aspect of emotional intelligence.
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions. It’s not just about being able to feel your own emotions; it’s about understanding the emotions of others and using that information to navigate relationships effectively.
Why is emotional intelligence important?
Developing your emotional intelligence can be really helpful in your career, because it allows you to be more aware of yourself and others, making you better equipped to handle challenging situations.
What are the characteristics of emotional intelligence?
Self-awareness: When you are self-aware, you can identify and acknowledge your emotions which in turn helps you understand how your feelings affect your behaviour. This increases a personal understanding of yourself as well as awareness for others around you because it allows you to be more objective when talking about issues affecting relationships with your colleagues.
Managing emotional responses: Self managing your emotional responses to different situations takes strong communication and time management skills. It includes problem solving ability as well stress resistance for when things get tough!
Empathy for others: Understanding how to take care of your emotional needs while also ensuring the needs of those around you will help you notice important cues during social interactions.
Ability to maintain healthy relationships: Clear communication and healthy influence through action and words can help make more productive and functional relationships.
Top tips for developing your emotional intelligence
Exercise self-awareness
You can improve your emotional intelligence by being aware of the emotions you're feeling and how those respond in different situations. Knowing when a response might be expected will help with processing, communicating or handling difficult results that may arise from time-to-time
Communicate
Knowing how you feel in different situations can help improve your emotional intelligence. Being aware of the types and intensity level for each emotion will allow better processing, communication with others (especially those who are sensitive), as well as achieving more positive results from these experiences!
Practice empathy
When you consider how others might be feeling, that's an important quality of emotional intelligence. It means empathy for their pain and discomfort gives rise to a respectful response that comforts them in their time of need.
Remain calm under pressure
The best way to deal with stress is maintaining a calm and positive state. This will help you approach tense situations more easily, since it's easier for your thoughts not to be focused on any one thing or person when there are deadlines looming overhead!
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Our Certificate IV in Leadership and Management (BSB40520) can equip you with techniques to set you up for success.
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