Three Ways To Boost Emotional Intelligence
Unlike your IQ, your emotional quotient ( EQ) is something you can develop.
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1) Thinktanks
You can set up team‑based discussions to explore how emotional intelligence impacts your core business activities or specific teams.
You can also apply this to critical projects or challenges – using EI as a lens to think more creatively about the issues and your approach.
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The principle is simple: each person in a team is tasked with thinking about one of the five dimensions of emotional intelligence – self‑awareness, self‑management, social awareness, social management and motivations.
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Each team member then talks about their allocated dimension: what it means to them, and how it may play out positively or negatively in the team’s activities.
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In a group meeting, you can cover all five dimensions in a single session, or spread them over a short series (for example, three meetings).
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Suggested team size is 5–7 people; if you have more than 10, create multiple teams.
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Where numbers allow, you may want two people to work on and present each of the five dimensions.
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2) Brainstorming
Brainstorming EI and situations, using the chart of the five dimensions – self‑awareness, self‑management, social awareness, social management and motivations:
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Making reference to the chart, you can brainstorm opportunities or challenges you’re facing. Consider the implications of situations and the choices available; explore possibilities, weigh pros and cons, look for 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.
3) Blue Sky Thinking
Taking time out, particularly walking or jogging by yourself and without headphones is incredibly powerful.​
The thinking time that it gives you, for reflection, thinking things through and planning - is an incredibly powerful catalyst to boost your emotional intelligence.​
Both in the little things in life and also the big ones.​
It stimulates 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.
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.
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?
Other Round Table Discussions
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.