10 Simple Ways to Improve Emotional Intelligence





June 22,2021



Emotional Intelligence (EI) is becoming a strong predictor of success in business and leadership. Your IQ could be important in helping you to achieve academic grades. However, several studies have shown that 80% of the real-life success is predicted by EI alone. Most interesting aspect of EI is that it can be improved with its knowledge and practice. I would like to emphasize in the practice component. All techniques to improve EI boils down to self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and intentionality in communication.





What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and manage your emotions and your reactions to them. Emotional intelligence is the secret weapon of success. It allows you to listen, observe and understand your emotions as an important part of decision making. Emotions reflect the state of your mind, and understanding and managing them is critical in all kinds of situations. Emotional Intelligence is measured by using Self-Report Questionnaires like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and manage your emotions and your reactions to them. Emotional intelligence is the secret weapon of success. It allows you to listen, observe and understand your emotions as an important part of decision making.


Why is it important?

The first thing is to understand what self-awareness means. The ability to recognize and experience our own emotions is crucial to our individual and group behavior. It is the tool that enables us to identify, express, regulate and manage our emotions in more constructive ways. Self-awareness helps us identify and improve our EI. Without it, we end up reacting to others' actions without taking the necessary steps to improve our own behavior. Self-awareness helps us live and process emotions and feelings. It helps us understand what is going on in our minds and what we are doing and feeling. We can use this insight to better manage our emotions, organize our thoughts and work with others to solve problems.


How can it be improved?

  1. Acknowledge and recognize when you experience emotion.
  2. Recognize the emotion within the context of the situation.
  3. Make a deliberate attempt to understand your emotions, and then use them to guide your choices.
  4. Use your emotions to guide your choices in a direction that you believe is most beneficial to you and your future.
  5. Deal with the emotion, not your judgement or your ego
  6. Practice in small increments.
  7. Disengage, detach, and maintain your focus, without emotional involvement.
  8. Acknowledge, and not discount what you are feeling.
  9. Talk it out!
  10. Take the time to go within, as it is where you have the answers that are keeping you stuck, and being willing to look within will help you find your key to unlock the door.

Conclusion

I thought it would be fun to share 10 simple ways to improve your emotional intelligence. These tactics may be a good starting point for a fresh start or fun to develop a more versatile emotional intelligence.