“Yesterday I was clever, so I changed the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself” – Rumi
We have all heard of the phrase “emotional intelligence” but do we really know what it means? Do we know the importance it holds in our lives, from social interactions to mental wellbeing to work performance and even in building successful careers? Let’s take a deeper look at it…
What does it mean?
Emotional Intelligence refers to the capability of a person to manage and control his or her emotions and possess the ability to influence the emotions of others as well.
Why is it important?
We don’t often realize it but every action we do is based on our emotions, both positive and negative. Emotions are the root of all human behavior and thus understanding our emotions will help guide our thinking, decisions and actions in life.
In the professional world, academic intellect and technical proficiency is not sufficient. A well-rounded personality with self-regulation & effective interpersonal relationships differentiates between success and failure. Research shows a person’s emotional quotient (EQ) can be a more effective indicator of potential success than their intelligence quotient (IQ).
How is it useful?
Emotional intelligence improves the following skills within us:
Psychologist Daniel Goleman’s 5 domains:
We are all born with a general level of emotional intelligence; however, this is a capability that we can improve and consciously work on. Emotional Intelligence does not just allow you to improve your professional life and advance your career growth, but it enhances your social life as well. It enables you to understand your own strengths and weaknesses which will help you adapt to changing circumstances throughout life, as well as enable you to understand and influence people around you and in your relationships.
Another article on ways to increase your emotional intelligence coming up soon. Stay tuned!
Hamna Rathore