So what is emotional intelligence?

The meaning of the term emotional intelligence speaks for itself. Simply put, it means being intelligent with your emotions. However, it’s not as simple as that. Understanding and gaining the ability to manage your emotions and the emotions of others is a significant challenge.

The good news is that emotional intelligence can be learnt. Once you have a better understanding of how your emotions work, it’s much easier to manage them. You can then use this knowledge to inform your thinking, reasoning, and actions to become a better communicator.  So how can you develop your emotional intelligence?

Identifying and Understanding

Emotions drive us. We are always on an emotional rollercoaster, riding the ups and downs. How we react to these highs and lows is what matters. Emotions are complex. Our mind, body, and actions are directly affected.

By understanding the science and function of our emotions, we are better equipped to cope. We also need to identify where our emotions come from. Once we understand the nature of our emotions and have identified the source, we can learn ways to manage them.

Managing Communication

There are many effective techniques that we can use to manage our emotions and ability to communicate. By having strategies in place, you will be able to react accordingly, with a more positive outcome. Above all, you will need to be flexible. Each situation requires a different response. With the right tools, you will have options to consider the best way to respond and be able to act accordingly.

Practise, practise, practise

Once you have learnt the techniques necessary to manage your emotions, it’s time to practise. Make it a point to avoid negative thinking. Becoming a positive thinker will make a huge difference in how you respond to others. Negative self-talk will destroy your chances of putting all the useful strategies you have learnt to good use.

Active listening is another skill you can practise. Although it takes concentration and effort, it will make you a better communicator and improve your emotional intelligence.

If you’re interested in learning more about emotional intelligence, ThinkTalent is now offering an MQF Level 5 course in Emotional Intelligence at Work. Follow this link to register your interest in our next course starting 2nd October 2020.