Emotional intelligence

The concept of emotional intelligence is considered new as the first discussions around it have started
only 33 years ago when the term was addressed in a research paper released by psychology professors : John D. Mayer and Peter Salovey in 1990., Emotional intelligence was described as the ability to recognize our emotions , and others' emotions and to react accordingly.

The four key components of emotional intelligence are:

1. Self-management: the ability to manage feelings and emotions healthily by avoiding impulsive reactions and adapting easily to changes.
2. Self-awareness : Recognizing one's own emotions and accepting them
3. Social awareness : Feeling empathy for others , noticing feelings , issues, and concerns of other people.
4. Relationship management : The ability to develop healthy relationships , to inspire others, and
   communicate effectively.

Over the years , emotional intelligence has evolved to become one of the top skills in demand in the
professional field and a key driver for success in personal and social life as well.
According to a survey driven by CareerBuilder , 71% of employers admitted that they value Emotional
intelligence over intelligence quotient as employees with higher levels of emotional intelligence are more likely to manage effectively work under pressure , conflict resolution, and unexpected challenges. For leaders as well it is not a surprise that EQ is a true asset , as it is highly related to higher employee's engagement and low turnover : Emotionally intelligent leaders easily recognize their employee's concerns and know how to maintain talent within the organization which drives to the company's success and stability.

Moreover , emotional intelligence is not only essential in the professional field but also in the personal
life. Emotional intelligence is directly linked with higher levels of self-confidence as well as the
ability to control our reactions , express our feelings, and feel empathy for others which leads to
healthier relationships : Successful marriage , good connection between parents and children, and long-lasting friendships are highly dependent on high levels of EQ.

Furthermore , Emotional intelligence is not only useful in the professional and personal fields but it also has its positive effects on our health : high levels of EQ contribute to lowering stress levels which helps to prevent several diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetics and it helps to maintain a good mental health by lowering the possibility to fall in depressions .

There is no doubt that emotional intelligence is a true asset in our lives, you might be academically smart and have a set of useful technical skills yet , still cannot reach professional success . The same rule applies to personal life , you might own a set of qualities like good appearance , strong social position, and politeness and still fail to build healthy relationships if you are not emotionally intelligent.

Nevertheless , the good news is that emotional intelligence is not necessarily an inherited quality but
rather a skill that can be developed easily .
Here are some tips that can help you develop emotional intelligence :

1. For a few days try to track your feelings and reactions and observe the relationship between them
   and the impact of your reactions on your environment : This tip will definitely help you identify the
   wrong reactions and work to avoid them in the future.
2. Develop yourself to control your reactions and to slow them down , try to avoid reacting quickly to
   situations give yourself time to evaluate the impact of each reaction.
3. Try to feel more empathy for others : Empathy helps to put ourselves in everyone's shoes , it is the
   ability to understand and share the feelings of others which supports healthier and stronger
   relationships.
4. Ask one of your trusted friends for feedback : it's often difficult to have a complete picture of our
   behavior , qualities, and defects , that's why feedback from a trusted person might be really helpful.

In case you were not able to develop emotional intelligence even after following these tips for good
period, you probably need to seek professional help.
All things considered , emotional intelligence is not just a simple skill but rather one of the backbones of everyone's success in both personal and professional life .

Sources :
https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/emotional-intelligence-in-
leadership#:~:text=Emotional%20intelligence%20is%20defined%20as,popularized%20by%20psychologist%20Daniel%20Goleman.

https://press.careerbuilder.com/2011-08-18-Seventy-One-Percent-of-Employers-Say-They-Value-
Emotional-Intelligence-Over-IQ-According-to-CareerBuilder-Survey