Why Emotional Intelligence is Worth Cultivating
Emotional intelligence is an asset that can often get overlooked. It’s incredibly useful when you’re trying to get a job or a promotion. It’s also essential in relationships—romantic, platonic, and professional. Some people naturally seem to have greater emotional intelligence than others. However, like most things, it’s an asset you can cultivate and build upon with a bit of time and effort. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at why emotional intelligence is worth cultivating and how you can boost your own to succeed at work and in your personal life.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is defined as a person’s ability to perceive, use, and understand their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. You can express your emotions in healthy ways, and you’re empathetic toward other people when they’re expressing how they feel. Why is EI so important? It starts from within.
Someone with high emotional intelligence tends to feel more connected to their own feelings. As a result, they’re more likely to take action when necessary and feel more confident and informed about their decisions. People in leadership positions often have high emotional intelligence as it improves self-awareness, boosts motivation, and improves social skills. Additionally, EI is essential for building relationships and achieving personal goals.
What Are the Signs of Emotional Intelligence?
Almost everyone has at least some level of emotional intelligence. However, there are certain characteristics to look for in people with higher levels. They tend to embrace change. Their lives seem balanced, and they’re often less stressed than others. They’re grateful for the things they have, but they’re also motivated to do more and reach bigger and better goals.
Sound familiar? Chances are, you know at least one person like this. Maybe you even have some of these characteristics yourself. If you want to continue to build upon them, there are things you can do to improve your EI and become more in tune with your own feelings.
How to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence
Building emotional intelligence takes time and dedication, but it’s possible for just about anyone. You can improve your EI every day by making a few habitual changes. Some of the easiest ways to make EI improvement a part of your daily life include:
Taking the time to observe how you feel
Paying attention to your behaviors
Practicing mindfulness
Celebrating the positives
Acknowledging the negatives
It’s also important to pay attention to others as you try to cultivate emotional intelligence. Being in tune with your own feelings is the best place to start. But, eventually, you’ll want to be able to be empathetic toward the feelings of others. You can do that by practicing active listening, opening yourself up to others, and trying to change your perspective to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Practice Makes Perfect
For someone without a lot of natural EI, it takes a lot of practice to cultivate it. It might seem strange to think about “practicing” things like social skills and self-awareness, but when you’re determined to improve upon those skills, they are something you need to keep in mind every day. No matter what your goals are, EI can likely help. Thankfully, you don’t have to cultivate it on your own.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about emotional intelligence or you want effective strategies that can make it easier to cultivate, our office can help. Feel free to contact us for more information or to set up an appointment. Together, we can talk more about EI, your personal goals, and why emotional intelligence might have been a struggle for you in the past. Counseling For Professionals can help you succeed in all the ways you want to.