Key Skills for Raising Your EQ
Read to know how to raise your emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence has been defined, by Peter Salovey and John Mayer, as “the ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior”.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is about being “heart-smart”. Emotional intelligence matters just as much as intellectual ability, if not more, when it comes to happiness and success in life. Emotional intelligence helps you to build strong relationaships, succeed at work and achieve your goals.
Would you like to know how to raise your emotional intelligence? Learn and constantly develop the key skills.
The first key skill of emotional intelligence is the ability to quickly calm yourself down when you are feeling overwhelmed. You must learn to reduce stress rapidly to be able to “read” a situation, hear people around and be aware of your own feelings and needs, and communicate clearly. This emotional intelligence skill helps you stay balanced, focused, and in control – no matter what challenges you meet.
The second key skill is to be able to connect to your emotions. Many people are disconnected from their emotions – especially strong core emotions such as anger, sadness, fear, and joy. Without emotional awareness, we are unable to fully understand our own motivations and needs, or communicate effectively with others. Emotional awareness is the key to understanding yourself and others.
The third key skill of emotional intelligence is to understand non-verbal messages. Being a good communicator requires more than just verbal skills. Sometimes, what we say is less important than how we say it or the other nonverbal signals we send out. In order to hold the attention of others and build connection and trust, we need to be aware of and in control of our nonverbal cues. We also need to be able to accurately read and respond to the nonverval cues that other people send us. The wordless form of communication is emotionally driven. Our nonverbal messages produce a sense of interest, trust, excitement, and desire for connection – or they may generate fear, confusion, distrust and disinterest.
One more skill of emotional intelligence is using humour. Playful communication relaxes our bodies. When we loosen up, we get creative and see things in new ways. Humour, laughter and play are natural antidotes to life’s difficulties. They lighten our burdens and help us keep things in perspective. Hearty laugh reduces stress, elevates mood, and brings our nervous system back into balance.
The fifth skill of emotional intelligence is the ability to resolve conflicts positively. Conflicts and disagreements are inevitable in relationships. Resolving them in healthy, constructive ways can stengthen trust between people.
Now you know how to raise your emotional intelligence. Skills of emotional intelligence can be learned and developed. EQ will help you climb the ladder of success.
I have read an interesting article about Emotional intelligence (EQ). It is a nice overview of skills which people should have or try to obtain. It might be useful for beginners in sociology, for HR, for teachers, for people who work with other people.
In general, I think that every person already has all the skills in more or less percent. We practice EQ from our birth, we call it “socialization”. So to raise our EQ we should contact with people in childhood, at school, at work.
I have never used EQ as a term. I try to realize whether mine or others’ behavior is correct or not, and if does not fit the situation then I call it “stupidity”. In my personal world everything is clear and simple but as I’ve learned from the article it has titles and practices.
I think that I am good at conflict resolution and I can understand non verbal messages very well. It helps me in my daily life.
I like people who can use humor in particular situations to make any communication more comfortable.
I am not a fan of any kind of psychology, I am more realistic.