Tip 123: Enhance Your Emotional Intelligence

According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, EQ is what sets high performance apart. Leaders strong in skills attributed to EQ outperformed their annual review goals by 20 percent, while those weak in EQ skills underperformed by 20 percent.

Emotional intelligence is a spectrum of competencies representing how we manage ourselves and our relationships. There are five key areas: self-awareness, managing emotions, motivation, empathy, and social skills. EQ can be learned; it takes time, but you can boost your emotional intelligence.

To enhance your EQ, reflect on these possible approaches:

• Seek feedback from trusted coworkers.

• Know your emotional triggers and create a plan for managing them.

• Practice active listening and observation skills.

• Align your goals to what excites and motivates you.

• Show authentic and genuine appreciation for others.

To learn more, read the article, “5 ways to boost your emotional intelligence.”