Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by Editors Desk
Emotional intelligence (EI) is a term that gets thrown around a lot lately. It’s become a hot topic, with articles and books written on the subject. If you’ve been reading along with us, you may have even wondered whether or not it’s possible to increase your EI.
Fortunately, the answer is yes! In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about emotional intelligence and how to build your EI so that you can handle everyday situations with confidence and poise.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to identify and control one’s own emotions and the emotions of others. It is also the ability to identify other people’s emotions and to use this information to guide behavior and success.
While there is no single “right” amount of EI, a general consensus has emerged that there is a very strong correlation between EI and positive outcomes in life. EI can be seen as the “currency” that you use to interact with others.
How to Build Your EI
- Be curious about yourself and the world around you: Invest time in learning about yourself and those around you. Be open to new experiences and ideas, and do your best to avoid “tunnel vision”. Try to explore the wide world around you, and the many different aspects of yourself.
- Be courageous: Do not let fear hold you back. Embrace new experiences, even those that frighten or intimidate you.
- Be passionate: Be fired up about what you care about. Help to create a more positive world around you, and encourage others to do the same.
- Be humble: Remember that you are just one small part of a much larger picture. Try to find ways to be “unselfish” and to include others in your activities and in your life. – Be calm: Do not let the small things get to you. Try to stay grounded and keep a sense of perspective.
Tips for Building EI
Stay curious: Curiosity is one of the best ways to increase your self-awareness. It will help you to become more self-assured and self-directed, as you will have a better understanding of yourself and others.
Be courageous: Do not let fear hold you back. You may have heard this advice before, but it is incredibly important. Feeling confident, and having a strong sense of self, are one of the best ways to increase EI.
Be passionate: Be fired up about what you care about. Help to create a more positive world around you, and encourage others to do the same.
Be humble: Remember that you are just one small part of a much larger picture. Try to find ways to be “unselfish” and to include others in your activities and in your life. – Be calm: Do not let the small things get to you. Try to stay grounded and keep a sense of perspective.
Exercises to build EI
- Reflect on your day, and identify patterns. What are your “hot spots”? Where do you find yourself getting “stuck”? What activities do you tend to gravitate towards? What might be causing these “stuck” situations?
- Identify “power poses”. Power poses are postures that you adopt when you want to promote feelings of power and confidence. They can be adopted in any situation where you want to feel more powerful and self-assured.
- Make a daily “bucket list”. What are the things you want to do with your life? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to learn? Try to make a list of at least 10 things that you would like to do with your life before you “bucket-list” out something else.
- Develop a “mini-me”. What do you admire about someone that you meet? How can you incorporate some of the qualities that you admire into your daily activities?
- Take a class on a topic that interests you.
Tips for building EI
- Stay curious: Curiosity is one of the best ways to increase your self-awareness. It will help you to become more self-assured and self-directed, as you will have a better understanding of yourself and others.
- Be courageous: Do not let fear hold you back. You may have heard this advice before, but it is incredibly important. Feeling confident, and having a strong sense of self, are one of the best ways to increase EI.
- Be passionate: Be fired up about what you care about. Help to create a more positive world around you, and encourage others to do the same.
- Be humble: Remember that you are just one small part of a much larger picture. Try to find ways to be “unselfish” and to include others in your activities and in your life. – Be calm: Do not let the small things get to you. Try to stay grounded and keep a sense of perspective.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage emotions so that you can be effective in both your personal and professional life. You can build EI by developing emotional awareness, increasing self-confidence, and becoming more socially skilled. EI isn’t something that you’re either born with or without. It’s something that can be developed with effort and practice.
The best way to start building your EI is by getting to know yourself better. Become as comfortable with your emotions as you are with your own voice. Once you’ve got a better grasp on your emotions, you can use this information to better navigate social situations and connect with others on a deeper level.
