Emotional Intelligence: Why Develop It?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize both our own emotions and those of others, to acknowledge and consciously accept them, as well as to understand the motivations, intentions, and desires of others.

In a broader sense, it involves recognizing both positive and negative feelings, the ability to differentiate between emotions and facts, the skill to perceive the mood in interactions with others, and the ability to connect our emotions with the actions we take as a result.

The concept of emotional intelligence emerged as a response to the inability of traditional intelligence tests (IQ) to predict a person’s success in their career and life. Today, it is increasingly recognized that emotional intelligence (EQ) is more important than IQ.

Four Components of Emotional Intelligence:

1. Awareness of Emotions:
   It is the ability to identify and acknowledge our own emotions. This helps us better understand ourselves and what is happening to us, and then try to influence it. It is essential to understand that often we are driven by unconscious emotions.

2. Managing Emotions:
   From breathing practices and body techniques to changing how we interpret events, knowing how to manage emotions when making decisions, solving problems, and choosing behaviors is key. This also includes living and transforming our emotions in a healthy way.

3. Empathy:
   It is the ability to feel and recognize the emotions of others. Thanks to “mirror neurons,” we are able to sense what others are experiencing. This ability evolved for human survival, but it can either develop or deteriorate completely, especially due to traumatic experiences.

4. Influencing Others’ Emotions:
   We regularly influence the emotions of those around us, and we cannot avoid this. Recognizing and managing this influence is crucial in our daily interactions.

The combination of these skills helps us better understand ourselves and others, avoiding becoming a hostage to our emotions, resisting external influences, and managing our expectations. Developing emotional intelligence helps us overcome stress, resolve conflicts, and adapt flexibly to challenging situations. It also facilitates building social connections to achieve common goals and fulfill specific tasks by understanding how our actions impact others.

Unlike many innate talents, emotional intelligence is a social skill that can be perfected throughout life.

How to Develop Emotional Intelligence?

• Put yourself in another person’s shoes.

• Name emotions: both your own and others’.

• Expand your perspective.

• Think two steps ahead.

• Attend a training or start therapy.

This approach helps to improve interactions with others and manage emotions more effectively, enhancing both personal and professional life.