Job Feeds
Why is it that some of us are uncomfortable with public displays of emotion? Describe someone as 'emotional' and we immediately associate fear, sadness and anger, instead of happiness, wellbeing and excitement. It must be the British stiff upper lip that gives emotions such negative connotations. But being in touch with your emotions, and the emotions of those around you, can be beneficial in terms of career progress and general quality of life. Emotional intelligence is now a widely recognised concept in the business world, which sees a high EQ (emotional intelligence quota) as vital to career progression.
Emotions aside
The term emotional intelligence has only recently become popular, but it first originated at the beginning of the 20th century, when, at the time when IQ tests were being developed, US psychologist Edward Thorndike said there was too much emphasis on academic intelligence. He believed emotional and social intelligences were equally, if not more, important, and could be identified and measured separately from their academic counterparts.
So how do you find out whether you are emotionally intelligent, and do some of us simply have the gift, while others do not? It's quite easy to spot the emotionally intelligent among us; they tend to have higher verbal and social skills than others, are generally more open and agreeable, with a confident self-assured air about them. While some people pick up these social skills at home or at school, others may become adults and start work with a considerably lower EQ than their peers. But emotional intelligence is something that can be learned and improved upon constantly.
It's all about self-enquiry and being able to identify your own emotional state, explains Eleanor Yearwood, managing director of life coaching service NLP Connections. 'It's all about being able to see yourself as others see you. This allows you to influence others and develop relationships in the workplace. If you can identify how you are feeling, you can avoid getting caught up in negative thought patterns.'
People with higher EQ tend to be more successful in their careers. As Tom Crawford, head of employment and diversity at Deloitte, explains, 'The economy is dependent on human beings selling to other human beings. It's all about making contact - be it through Facebook, at social events or making business pitches. People with higher levels of empathy and an affinity for others tend to be more successful.'
Modern-day intellects
Modern businesses seek out candidates with higher EQ, but the value of emotional intelligence doesn't stop there. High EQ employees will be able to deal with daily challenges more calmly and effectively, and are also likely to manage more productive teams by honing in on their ability to motivate and inspire. Emotionally intelligent people have the ability to identify their feelings and choose how to respond.
Clive Lewis from life coaching service Illumine explains that people have a choice over how they react. 'The more emotionally intelligent will recognise that anger and stress are destructive emotions and so will choose not to feel that way.'
The mind is a powerful tool, so use it - it's the emotionally intelligent thing to do.
Smart feelings
An emotionally intelligent person:
● Avoids addictive or self-destructive behaviour, such as smoking, excessive drinking or drug abuse
● Is more likely to have possessions of sentimental attachment
● Has more positive social interactions
● Is more adept at describing motivational goals, aims and missions
All Practice Management
del.icio.us
Digg this
reddit!
