What is EQ? EQ is short for Emotional Quotient. It is another term that people use in lieu of Emotional Intelligence. EQ is described as “the capability of individuals to recognize their own and other people’s emotions, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one’s goal(s)”.[1] It is different from IQ or Intelligence Quotient which is a result of how you score on a set of standardized tests that assesses human intelligence.
Why is it important to have Emotional Intelligence or EQ? EQ isn’t a new buzz word. By now, everyone knows about the concept of having EQ. In countless studies, it has been proven time and again that people with a healthy Emotional Quotient have better skills to handle challenges.
The ability to handle challenges successfully can be a good predictor of how well you succeed in life – in your personal endeavors, at work, and other aspects. Besides, wouldn’t it make sense that: the better handle you have on your emotions, the better grip you have at situations that require a steady temperament. These are situations like: conflict resolution, listening and responding to others, controlling your reactions, and reading personalities.
According to psychologist Daniel Goleman’s Mixed Model[2], there are 5 key areas where we can potentially improve our EQ. They are:
1. Self-awareness: is basically about mastering your feelings.
2. Self-management: is about being able to keep your emotions in check.
3. Motivation: is knowing your personal objectives and what moves you towards them.
4. Empathy: is being aware of other people’s feelings, thoughts, and experiences.
5. Social skills: is being able to find common ground and interacting well with others.
Take a look at each of the key areas above and assess yourself based on those 5 key factors. I suggest doing this in tandem with something meditative like a long leisurely walk. Once you have gotten into that introspective mindset, you might want to document your findings by jotting them down in a journal. If you are completely honest with yourself, you will expect to find that there are some areas where you are strong (for example, you have stellar social skills and empathy) and there are areas which you need to work on (for example you may lack a definitive motivator or are struggling with getting a grip on your emotions).
Now that you have an idea what your weak points and your strong points are – find ways to improve on them. Our aim should always be towards self-improvement and knowing ourselves is the first step towards being better people.
Do you have tips on raising your EQ? I would love to hear about them in the comments. As always, remember to stay humble and hustle hard.
Written by: Jaie O. – The Help
References:
1. Coleman, Andrew (2008). A Dictionary of Psychology (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199534067.
2. Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books