Five Ways To Elevate Your EI
Unlike your IQ, your emotional quotient, your EQ, is something you can develop.
Here's how...
1. Reflection
When you think back in time, you'll be able to remember situations in which you applied good judgement or made bad decisions.
What trends or patterns of your own behaviour, worked well or badly? Taking time out, particularly walking or jogging by yourself and without headphones is incredibly powerful.
2. Inputs from Others
You may wish to ask other people for their thoughts about your emotional or behaviourial intelligence. Perhaps bosses, ex-bosses or colleagues. What do they think your strengths and weaknesses are?
Also observe other peoples behaviours to identify characteristics that you like, and ones you're not so keen on.
3. Thinking Time
Critical thinking... most people fall into the trap of giving the same time to big choices or problems, as they do little ones!
Consider setting aside, time away from people and distractions, without listening to audio - in which you can simply think things through properly.
4) Brainstorming
This image isn’t just for show—you can use it as a point of reference for brainstorming. To consider possibilities, weigh pros and cons, consider overlooked angles, and reflect on the impact your choices may have on you and others.
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Sometimes, the smartest move is knowing when not to act—yet.
5) Round Table Discussion
Getting people together to discuss emotional intelligence and how it plays out in the workplace is a great way to build awareness and boost performance—both individually and across the business. Ideally, form groups of around five people, either from the same department or a mix. In the first roundtable, each person should introduce one of the five areas of emotional intelligence, followed by an open discussion about how it shows up in their role, team dynamics, current challenges, and individual strengths and weaknesses.