3 min read

Personal Growth; Personal Development.

Written by Luis Quezada, certified coach who empowers heart-centered professionals who are passionate about positive change and personal development. Visit virtucoaching.com to learn more.

Cultivating Emotional Intelligence.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear emotional intelligence?

Many people often tell me emotional intelligence is about managing emotions, or that it has to do with some degree of mental health, or about happiness and well-being. And while these responses are true, emotional intelligence (EI) encompasses a deeper meaning which has a direct impact on these that are most often associated with.

Emotional intelligence is important as it is involved in recognizing and managing emotions, helping you make more effective decisions and to connect more deeply with others. It also builds the capacity for self introspection, balance, and continued growth.

In fact, it is so important that today employers value EI as it is known to be associated with higher collaboration, leadership, and overall improved customer relationships.

Consider a scenario where you're leading a team project and one of your team members presents an innovative idea that challenges your initial plan. An emotionally intelligent leader would recognize their initial resistance, take a step back, and ask open-ended questions to understand the team member's perspective. This helps create a safe space for constructive feedback that fosters a collaborative environment where the best ideas can happen.

Yet, a study by TalentSmart, which tested over 1 million people, found that only 36% of people have high EI. That is, about 2 in 5 people have the skills to recognize and manage their emotions, as well as empathize with others. Further, consider the way we show up and the personal qualities, mannerisms, and behaviors we can’t see about ourselves, but others can. These are blindspots in EI.

Daniel Goleman, an emotional intelligence pioneer, developed a model that is composed of five interconnected scales; self-perception, self-expression, interpersonal, decision making, and stress management plus 15 detailed subscales and an assessment that provides you a score of your Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ) to help you assess your EI and blindspots. Additionally the scores are not fixed, that means that emotional intelligence changes over time, or through regular and dedicated work. We can say that what we are talking about here is the ability to develop self-awareness, self-regulation, and the social skills to lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and resilience.

Did you know only about 12-15% of people have high levels of self-awareness? (Church, 1997).

To fine-tune, I help my clients focus around these key interpersonal areas that aims at a practical application to Goleman’s composite scales to foster a broadened approach and deeper understanding to oneself, and one’s emotional intelligence.

See Myself: Challenge my own assumptions and biases
Communicate Authentically: Be vulnerable and curious in my interactions
Foster Relationships: Embrace diversity and inclusivity in my network
Act with Conviction: Trust my gut and make decisions with confidence
Maintain Balance: Prioritize self-care and well-being in my life

Now tell me, wth this framework as reference, how do you view emotional intelligence playing a role in your life? Given that each area is not static meaning that it can vary in definition, how do you personally define each of these components to resonate with your style? Think about it.

And remember that emotional intelligence is a vital component of personal and professional growth. By understanding and developing our self-awareness, self-regulation, and social skills, we can cultivate more meaningful relationships, make informed decisions, and achieve greater success.

--------

*Bradberry, T. (2019). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart. (Original work published 2009)

*Church, A. H. (1997). Managerial self-awareness in high-performing individuals in organizations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(2), 281-292. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.82.2.281

THE LEAGUE OF BUSINESS

Entrepreneurial Club

Share this article with those who may find it interesting.

Join the LOB Movement as Club Member

--------------------------

Connect with LOB:

LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram,