Meaning: Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.

Can emotional intelligence be taught?

The good news is that while some  people have EQ as a natural talent, for those that don’t, EQ skills can be learned. People can learn how to interact more effectively at work and increase their emotional intelligence.

Important Components:

1)   Self-Awareness:  Self-awareness, or the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions, is a critical part of emotional intelligence. Beyond just recognizing your emotions, however, is being aware of the effect of your actions, moods, and emotions on other people.These individuals are also capable of this are open to new information and experiences, and learn from their interactions with others. Usually people who possess selfawareness have a good sense of humor, are confident in themselves and their abilities, and are aware of how other people perceive them.

2)   Self-Regulation: In addition to being aware of your own emotions and the impact you have on others; emotional intelligence requires you to be able to regulate and manage your emotions. This doesn’t mean putting emotions on ockdown and hiding your true feelings, it simply means waiting for the right time and place to express them. Those who are skilled in self-regulation tend to be flexible and adapt well to change. They are also good at managing conflict and diffusing tense or difficult situations.Those with strong self-regulation skills are high in conscientiousness. They are thoughtful about how they influence others, and they take responsibility for their own actions.

3)  Social Skills: Being able to interact well with others is another important aspect of emotional intelligence. True emotional understanding involves more than just understanding your own emotions and those of others. You also need to be able to put this information to work in your daily interactions and communications. In professional settings, managers benefit by being able to build
relationships and connections with employees. Workers benefit from being able to develop a strong rapport with leaders and co-workers. Important social skills include active listening, verbal communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, leadership, and
persuasiveness.

4)  Empathy:  Empathy, or the ability to understand how others are feeling, is absolutely critical to emotional intelligence. But it involves more than just being able to recognize the emotional states of others. It also involves your responses to people based on this information. “How to respond to a person who is sad and hopeless?” is a valid example.

5)  Motivation: People who are emotionally intelligent are motivated by things beyond external rewards like fame, money, recognition, and acclaim. Those who are competent in this area tend to be action-oriented. They set goals, have a high need for achievement, and are always looking for ways to do better. They also tend to be very committed and are good at taking initiative.

Signs of Low Emotional Intelligence:

• They Always Have to Be ‘Right’.

• They’re Oblivious to Other People’s Feelings

• They Behave Insensitively.

Is EQ more important than IQ: These days, EQ – emotional intelligence is considered quite important for personal success. Having a high IQ (Intelligence quotient) is an advantage but having EQ can make all the difference to your studies and future career, relationships & social life.

Conclusion: EQ play key role in life. Few have it naturally & if any have low EQ then no need to tense, Fortunately, these skills can be honed.

Nidhi Sharma
Counsellor & Psychotherapist
nniiddhhii_03@rediffmail.com
805506335