Emotional Intelligence (or EQ, emotional quotient) Emotional intelligence is “the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.” (x)
We talk about it frequently in the Leadership Development Program I facilitate at work. Nearly every week we’re coming back to EQ tools, and it all starts with self-awareness. Great, authentic leaders need to be relentlessly self-aware. And there are a lot of simple things we can do to understand ourselves and keep growing.
Here are five I frequently suggest but are by no means an exhaustive list:
- Write. Journal. Blog. Get what’s in your head down on the page.
- Ask yourself questions. Why did I react that way? What am I feeling? What leads me to believe that? Is that true? Get curious about your thoughts and your beliefs.
- Solicit feedback. From friends, direct reports, your manager, your family. Listen without defensiveness and find the grain of truth amongst any bullshit.
- Create a Working with Me document.
- Meditate.
With Love,
Natalie