Nicolle Mejia Molina
July 10, 2024
Newsletter ArticleAre you curious about all the hype surrounding emotional intelligence and its impact on the professional and academic world? We've got the inside scoop just for you!
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a person's ability to identify and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. EQ allows you to handle yourself and your relationships in challenging circumstances at home, work or school.
Building emotional intelligence brings out the best in others, helps create a positive work environment, and cultivates high-performing teams. This journey of self-improvement and personal growth is beneficial for your professional life and overall well-being, inspiring you to strive for continuous development.
Benefits of emotional intelligence in the workplace/school
Conflict management:
Conflicts are inevitable in a team-setting scenario. However, emotional intelligence can be the key to handling them effectively. Whether it's a group project in school or a collaborative endeavour in the workplace, sometimes you encounter uncooperative group members, which can be extremely frustrating and lead to heated arguments. But here's where emotional intelligence comes in. Individuals with high emotional intelligence will thrive because they can validate the other party's feelings, develop possible solutions, and show empathy, allowing the issue not to escalate.
Better decision making
Although this may sound surprising, decision-making is an important skill related to emotional intelligence. Our emotions can cloud our judgment and get in the way of making good decisions. Dealing with uncooperative group members at school or work can be extremely difficult, as your emotions can take control and make you act irrationally. In the heat of the moment, you may be tempted to put your team members on the spot or lay all the blame on them, but that's not the best decision. In this case, emotionally intelligent and self-aware individuals take the time to cool down and acknowledge the impact of their emotions on their behaviour to prevent impulsive actions.
Increased productivity
Working with others at school or work can be challenging, but it's also an opportunity to create a supportive environment that fosters collaboration. Group projects mean you'll encounter a range of opinions. Remaining open to these diverse perspectives is key to achieving a successful outcome. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in this process. It helps you be open-minded and, in turn, adapt quickly and efficiently to new ideas, solutions, or general changes. This adaptability leads to increased productivity as you can respond effectively to the evolving demands of your work environment.
How to cultivate emotional intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. While some people may naturally possess EQ, many of us need to work to enhance this skill. It's time to control your emotions, not let them control you!
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