SAFETY4SEA Soft Skills - Issue 01

SAFETY4SEA SOFT SKILLS | ISSUE 1 | Q1 2020 21 20 SAFETY4SEA SOFT SKILLS | ISSUE 1 | Q1 2020 ARTICLE What is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional intelligence is also known as emotional quotient (EQ) and emotional intelligence quotient (EIQ). It can be defined as the ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emo- tions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. Emotional intelligence also reflects abilities to join intelligence, empathy and emotions to enhance thought and understanding of interpersonal dynamics. According to Harvard Business Review, emotional intelligence (EQ) is “the key attribute that distinguishes outstanding performers,” and is the leading differentiator between employ- ees whose IQ and technical skills are approximately the same. Just as at the iceberg of success, so at the iceberg of intelligence, the IQ is just the tip of the Iceberg; the visible part of it, which we all know is just the small upper tip of it. The larger, under- water part represents our EQ. However, have you ever wondered to what extend do you recognize your emotions, understand what they’re telling you, and realize how your emotions affect people around you? Actually, there are six major signs of emotional intelligence: 6 Signs that you are Emotional Intelligent 1. You are Self-Aware For most people, self-awareness is the most important part of EQ. Indeed, people with high emo- tional intelligence are usually very self-aware; meaning that they have the ability to recognize emotions in both themselves and others. They know their strengths and weaknesses as well. 2. You demonstrate empathy Empathy is the ability to under- stand others’ thoughts and feel- ings while also helps you connect with others. People who demon- strate empathy are good listeners and are proved to build deeper, more connected relationships as they work hard to see things through others’ eyes. 3. You self-regulate Self-Regulation is the ability to control emotions but also impuls- es. People who self-regulate are not afraid of saying no and tend to think wisely before they act. For instance, highly emotionally intelligent people don’t get easily flustered when things don’t go ac- cording to plan. In particular, they barely become angry or jealous; they neither make impulsive, care- less decisions. 4. You are motivated People with emotional intelligence defer immediate results for long- term success. They’re highly pro- ductive, love a challenge, and are very effective in whatever they do. 5. You are socially aware Being socially aware means un- derstanding other people’s moods, behavior, and motives in order to improve the quality of your relationships. In fact, the net result of social awareness is the ongo- ing development of social skills explained below. 6. You are socially skilled Social skills are like any other skill. If you practice, you’ll get better. You don’t need to be born with natural charisma, and it’s never too late to learn. Therefore, emotional intelligence can be learned. Actually, it’s a lifetime process! At the other end of the spectrum personality traits are prominent aspects of character that are exhibited in a wide range of important social and personal contexts. Personality is seen as the essence of character. It is part of an individual´s genetic makeup and is stable over time. How to boost your emotional intelligence It is more than obvious that in order to develop our emotional intelligence, we need to develop the aforesaid per- sonal and social skills in terms of both awareness and management. ● ● Become more self-aware Work on how well you know your- self, your thoughts or your feelings? Self-awareness is the foundation of personal growth and success. Dan- iel Goleman calls it the ‘keystone’ of emotional intelligence. It is the kind attention we pay to our thoughts and feelings that makes it impossible for our emotions to rule us. Recognizing and understand- ing our emotions means having the power to control them. ● ● Develop your self-regulation ability Take a time out of your busy day- to-day activities; stop and reflect on what brings you the greatest meaning in your life. If we fail to do this on a regular basis, we risk becoming tranquilized by the trivial; sedated by the small details. ● ● Understand and respond to the needs of others After having payed attention to yourself, it is time to see how yourself interacts with others. Un- derstanding and responding to the needs of others means being social aware and being socially aware is a natural response to people. Taking others situation and needs into ac- count as much as possible! ● ● Create strong bonds Work on your relationships manage- ment. It is not enough to be friendly. Most of the competencies of rela- tionship management are associ- ated with leadership. You should connect with others in ways that help them feel understood. Further- more, effectively communicate the need for change and demonstrate support for the process. “Emotions drive people. People drive performance.” In today’s corporate life, dependent on negotiation, compromise, and collaboration, the importance of emotional in- telligence (EQ) should not be understated. We hear that many organizations now use EQ testing in order to hire new staff. But, what’s more important in determining life success? Our ability to learn and apply knowledge – cognitive intelligence (IQ) - or emotional intelligence (EQ)?