Emotional Intelligence = the ability to relate to your emotions and those of others in a healthy, empowering way.
This concept is often misunderstood in the business world and our culture. Most of us do not understand our emotions and fall “victim” to thinking emotion is something to control and even be afraid of.
This leads to unhealthy suppression or an overreaction to the very natural human experience of emotion. In this state, we judge our emotional climate as good or bad, right or wrong which leads to an even greater misunderstanding of emotion.
Emotional Intelligence(also known as E.Q.) falls into 4 categories:
Your Internal World:
Self-regard, self-actualization, interdependence and emotional awareness.
Interpersonal Relationships:
Empathy, social responsibility, healthy connection to others, open communication.
Responsiveness:
Impulse control, stress management, ability to grasp reality, self-expression.
Emotional State:
General mood, ability to shift from fear to power, ability to “allow” emotion with self and others.
The leading indicator for how well adjusted, successful, and satisfied you are in life always points to E.Q.
- Imagine being able to easily respond versus reacting to any situation.
- Imagine being able to stay out of judgment mode when experiencing an emotion.
- Imagine having the ability to be with another and allow whatever emotional state they are in be it grief, anger or guilt.
- What would be possible if you didn’t react to anger or shame by shrinking away?
- What if you could operate from your vision, your commitment, and your values instead of letting fear of emotion determine your actions in the world?
- Who would you be with your children?
- What would be possible in your most important relationships?
- What courageous actions would you take in your life?
While E.Q. is a fairly new concept to many, there have already been numerous studies linking the importance of developing emotional intelligence and success in business.
- A study of PepsiCo executives with high emotional intelligence outperformed peers by ~35%. McClelland, ’98; Psychological Sciences
- Fundamental elements of emotional intelligence including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills, support the skills that account for 76% of the effectiveness of leading managers. Goleman, ’98; Working with Emotional Intelligence
- In a study of 12,000 managers and executives, 80% of star performers’ competencies were related to emotional intelligence. Boyatzis, Weatherford School of Management
The good news is that unlike behavior style and intelligence level you can actively grow your Emotional Intelligence.
THERE IS NO LIMIT TO YOUR CAPACITY TO GROW EMOTIONALLY. This leads to a richer, more enjoyable life, the ability to be satisfied, and to live in peace regardless of your circumstance.
Are you effectively using Emotional Intelligence for your leadership success?
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