What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence or EQ is defined as a set of competencies demonstrating the ability one has to recognize his or her behaviors, moods, and impulses and to manage them best according to the situation. A person with high emotional intelligence can manage his or her own impulses, communicate with others effectively, manage change well, solve problems, and use humor to build rapport in tense situations. These people also have empathy, remain optimistic even in the face of adversity, and are gifted at educating and persuading in a sales situation and resolving customer complaints in a customer service role.

Emotional Intelligence is a part of you that affects every aspect of your life. Understanding the root causes of your emotions and how to use them can help you to effectively identify who you are and how you interact with others.

Since Emotional Intelligence is still a fairly new branch of psychology, its definition can be found in various theories and models. We are presenting a definition influenced by a few theories and mainly popularized by Daniel Goleman’s 1995 book entitled "Emotional Intelligence."

The following is a list of five key points to remember to help you master the art of self-management.

• Be consistent. Part of managing oneself is the ability to be stable. The values you hold dear should always be transparent. Changing your values and/or beliefs on different occasions can not only cause others to question your beliefs, but it can also cause you to become confused about what you truly believe.
• Stick to the plan. If you are scheduled to complete a particular task, don’t just do it, but do it and make sure it is done in a timely manner. It is easy to feel out-of-control when you disregard the plan you are to follow.
• Be accountable. There are times when things don’t work out as you plan, but you have to be able to admit that and then use your flexibility to get things back on track. The ideal result is that you easily bounce back and complete the task, but even during those times when this is not the case, you are expected to adjust.
• Educate yourself. We live in an ever-changing world, and you want to be able to keep up with it. Don’t let change pass you by; embrace it. Be an avid reader. Talk and listen to mentors and peers. They may know something that could help you along your journey.
• Stay physically fit. Many people don’t think of staying fit when they talk about self-management, but it is a very important part of being able to practice the four preceding points. Exercising your body is just as crucial to self-management as exercising your mind. A body that is not well rested, nutritionally fed, or physically exercised can lead to emotional and physical illnesses.

Until next time...

 




Sheryl Tuchman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
http://tools2succeed.com/