We all know what intelligence is but how do we qualify Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
Emotional intelligence is generally said to include at least three skills: emotional awareness, or the ability to identify and name one’s own emotions; the ability to harness those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same. Let us look at some attributes of Emotional Intelligence:
- Self-awareness
- Self-Management
- Empathy
Self-Awareness:
Who we really are? What kind of psychological mind-set we have and emotions that we go through! We need to remove the Taboo and recognize the emotions that we experience. For example grieving/sadness is an emotion that we need to accept and not ignore it. Only when we accept and recognize the emotion we learn to deal with it. It would help writing down the emotions in a piece of paper and trial and error on how to handle the emotion because every person has his/her own way of dealing with it
Self – Management:
Let us take an example. We all know that conflicts are usual in any team. We might have a point of view/opinion that gets vetoed by others. In that kind of a scenario it is natural to feel disappointed or even insulted if our idea/view is rejected. We must now know how to handle that emotion and channelize it in the right direction and understand the others perspective / compulsions.
Empathy:
Handling the emotions of others. Awareness and understanding of other’s emotions once we master our own emotions is the next step towards matured Emotional Intelligence.
If everyone in this world is Emotionally Intelligent knowing and understanding ourselves becomes a norm and helps deal with interpersonal relationships. Just imagine what would it mean to have an emotionally intelligent boss/parent?? How we approach conflicts, acceptance and tolerance would change for the better and lead to a TRULY INCLUSIVE WORLD!
