24 Jul Emotional Intelligence. What is is, and why you need it.
Change is constantly happening all around us and within us. Part of being human is navigating these everyday changes and constantly working to evolve into a better version of ourselves. Success in business often depends on this continued self-improvement and the ability to be dynamic throughout a career. Today we take a closer look into Emotional Intelligence (EQ); how it impacts our success both personally and professionally.
By definition Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.” – “emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success.”
You may be wondering what EQ has to do with your success in business or as a leader. According to TalentSmart andEntrepreneur– A LOT. EQ acts as the foundation for all most all of the critical skills needed in business and is the strongest predictor of performance, in fact 58% of your performance can be attributed to your EQ. Simply put, your EQ impacts most everything you do and say each day.
EQ is something that can be worked on daily and improved with practice and patience. Anyone who is willing to put in the work will see their EQ rise thus making them a better leader and aid in their success. Below we take a look into 3 of the main characteristics of EQ along with how we can improve these skills overtime.
Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation
Having the ability to be self-aware means you are able to listen, show empathy and consider alternative perspectives [3]. Self-awareness allows you the consciousness to be able to process and understand the emotions you feel as where self-regulation is the ability to not act impulsively while controlling these emotions. When you practice self-aware and self-regulation as a leader you are less like to make carless decisions and have the ability to communicate clearly. This ability and control allows you become a better leader for your team [4]. There are several ways to condition yourself to become more self-aware, let’s take a look at some of them below [6]:
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- Practicing self-reflection and meditation
- Ask for feedback
- Keep a journal
- Keep track of your goals and plans
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Accountability
A leader is someone who shows themselves to be accountable in every situation. Did something go wrong, is there a problem? If so, a true leader will ask “What is my impact on this situation” vs pointing fingers at those around them. It is their ability to own the situation and their involvement that sets them apart. [3,4]. Accountability is often seen as integrity which is something every great leader must have. To being practicing accountability you must ask questions, be honest with yourself and others, stick to commitments and help those around you.
Understanding Dynamics and Empathy
Understanding dynamics and showing empathy plays on a leader’s ability to understand their current situation and those around them. When you can hone in on your surroundings and recognize the feelings of those around you, it enables you to become a better leader. Empathic leaders tend to be good at managing relationships because they take the time to listen and relate to others. One way to improve your ability to recognize and understand dynamics is to work with a mentor. This is a person who has been in a similar situation that you can look up to who is willing to help you become the best version of yourself. Empathy however can be practiced day in and day out on your own. Practicing empathy means you must work not judging to quickly or jumping to conclusion, while taking the time to understand the wants, needs and viewpoints of those around you [3,4].
There are countless ways to become a better leader and practice self-improvement, however working on your emotional intelligence seems to be a critical step in achieving success. FITTEAM encourages you to be the best version of yourself every day! If you are looking to find your success as and leader and in business, we ask you to explore the opportunities FITTEAM has to offer today by CLICKING HERE.
Sources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241998
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_59.htm
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/what-is-self-awareness/