Assignment: Characteristics Of Emotional Intelligence

Assignment: Characteristics Of Emotional Intelligence
Assignment: Characteristics Of Emotional Intelligence
Psychologist identified five elements that make up emotional intelligence. These are:
1. Self-awareness.
2. Self-regulation.
3. Motivation.
4. Empathy.
5. Social skills.
Let’s look at how you can develop good skills in each area.
Self-Awareness
(Questions 1, 8, 11)
Your score is 15 out of 15
In his 1996 book “,” Goleman explained that people with high self-awareness are “aware of their moods as they are having them.”
To increase , learn about . This involves focusing on the present moment – including how you’re feeling. And keep a in which you write about and analyze the emotional situations you experience from day to day.
You also need to understand your strengths and weaknesses to build self-awareness. Do a , and from your boss, friends, and trusted colleagues to find out how you can improve further.
Self-Regulation
(Questions 2, 4, 7)
Your score is 11 out of 15
Self-regulation is about staying in control. To develop your skills in this area, learn how to effectively.
If you often get , note what triggers this feeling, and think about why this happens. Use techniques such as to calm yourself down, and give yourself time to pause before you respond to emails or requests, so that you don’t say something that you’ll later regret. (See our article on to learn more about this.)
You may also be affected by other negative feelings and emotions, such as and . So, do what you can to manage these feelings effectively.
is another important element of self-regulation. Take responsibility for your actions and behaviors, and make sure that these align with your .
Motivation
(Questions 6, 10, 12)
Your score is 15 out of 15
Self-motivation is strongly affected by your emotions. When you’re distracted by your emotions, you may find it hard to see tasks through.
by developing , and by looking for and celebrating – simple jobs that, when you’ve completed them, give you a sense of achievement.
Also, set yourself longer-term . When you decide what you want to achieve, you’ll focus on what really matters to you. This can be highly motivating, especially when you connect personal goals with career-related ones.
If you’re still struggling to get motivated in your current role, take some time to .
Empathy
(Questions 3, 13, 15)
Your score is 14 out of 15
Empathy is the ability to recognize other people’s emotions and understand their perspectives. Goleman calls this aspect of EI “the fundamental people skill.”
To develop , start by simply thinking about other people’s viewpoints. Imagine how they may be feeling, and use to understand them fully when they express their emotions to you.
Try not to interrupt or talk about your own feelings during the conversation. Look at their , too: it can tell you a lot about their emotions. If you watch and listen to others, you’ll quickly become attuned to how they feel. (The technique can give you a particularly sharp insight into what other people may be thinking and feeling.)
Tip:
If you’re a leader, read our article “What’s Empathy Got to do With it?” for tips on using empathy in leadership.
Social Skills
(Questions 5, 9, 14)
Your score is 14 out of 15
Even if you’re not a natural “people person,” it is possible to develop better social skills.
Start by taking our to see which communication skills you need to improve on. Then, find out how you can and with people – this is an essential part of building .
Don’t shy away from negative situations, either. Learn how to and other difficult situations effectively.
If you’re uncomfortable with social situations, work on building . Start slowly, but then look for opportunities to practice your skills with bigger groups. For example, you could offer to attend conferences on behalf of your team.
Key Points
Developing high emotional intelligence (or EI) is incredibly important for a successful career. When we have high levels of emotional intelligence, we’re able to build strong working relationships and manage difficult situations more effectively.
Influential psychologist Daniel Goleman developed a framework of five elements that define emotional intelligence:
1. Self-awareness.
2. Self-regulation.
3. Motivation.
4. Empathy.
5. Social skills.
Even if you already have many of the elements of emotional intelligence, it’s important to look for opportunities to build it further. This will increase your leadership potential, and improve the quality of your relationships.
For more detail, see our full emotional intelligence and take a look at our infographic.