Emotional Intelligence
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence is a term used to refer to abilities such as:
- Recognising your own emotions
- Recognising other people's emotions
- Differentiating between different feelings and knowing how to name them
- Using this information to guide your thinking and actions
- Managing your emotions
- Handling other peoples emotions
- Relating to others
You'll often hear Emotional Intelligence referred to as EQ.
How is it different to IQ?
IQ, on the other hand, is a measure of cognitive ability or "general intelligence". It is typically understood to include things like:
- Working memory
- Logic and reasoning
- Visual and spatial processing
Why is it important?
Emotional Intelligence is extremely important because if you lack emotional skills, you will find it difficult both to self-regulate and to interact successfully with others. Being able to manage your emotions helps you deal the challenges that life will inevitably present, including dealing with other people when they are not at their best. You won't be so easily triggered by the behaviour of others, and if you are triggered, you will be able to manage your feelings and deal with them in constructive ways. you will also be more empathetic and understanding of the reasons why people react/behave they way they do.
For these reasons, emotional intelligence is crucial for optimising teamwork, allowing teams and organisations to effectively achieve their aims. It can also make life more pleasant for you and everyone around you.