Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to identify and regulate one’s emotions as well as understand the emotions of other people. EI is imperative in everything that we do, but in a professional setting, its value is tremendous, as it can help to increase productivity and retain staff.
Self-awareness is the first step in developing a deeper understanding of yourself. It allows one to identify certain aspects of their psychological makeup that they can then target for improvement. What motivates you? What brings you fulfillment?
There are five categories that fall under emotional intelligence.
Self Regulation
Being able to manage one’s emotions is known as self-regulation. Individuals who are skilled at this are more likely to adapt to situations and manage conflict.
Motivation
The ability to motivate oneself is important. A person with high motivation focuses on achieving self-gratification instead of external rewards. Individuals who effectively motivate themselves are more likely to be focused on their goals and committed to achieving them.
Empathy
Being able to identify and understand the feelings of others is known as empathy. This allows an individual to make an unbiased assessment of how their fellow citizens are feeling. It also helps them understand the dynamics of their relationships both personally and professionally.
Social Skills
Being able to manage the emotions of others is also a skill that people can use to strengthen rapport and connect with others. This can be done through various forms of communication such as verbal and nonverbal communication. Active listening is a major social skill.
Self Awareness
Self Awareness is the ability to understand and recognize one’s emotions and how they may affect others.
Emotional intelligence plays a key role in the mental and physical health of people. Furthermore, it has been proven to have a major impact on how successful an individual is whether academically or in a professional career setting.
In order to recognize your full potential, first, tap into your emotional intelligence and acknowledge how you are connecting with others and the world around you. Are you handling stress well or are you easily overwhelmed? Is there a certain area of your life that you feel needs improvement? Whether you want to increase your motivation or build stronger interpersonal relationships, by learning more about your EI level and gaining self-awareness you can improve every aspect of your life.