It’s proven and completely true that your emotions matter more than your intelligence in your survival of the fittest. Intelligence might have received the garlands of significance for a long time, but according to experts, our emotional management holds the prize for winning in today’s competitive world. Research has shown that emotional intelligence accounts for up to 58% of our reasons for success. Not only that, people with high EI excel more in leadership roles, teamwork, and interpersonal skills, even if their IQ is average. IQ is a very stagnant feature of one’s character and personality; it doesn’t change—it’s stable. Whereas EI is something that can be upgraded with practice and knowledge about emotional skills. Emotional intelligence can be taught and nurtured right from school age to adulthood. In many parts of the world, EI is being taught to school-going children, and many offices hold webinars for their employees to learn EI.
Let’s dive into this subject and gain a muscle of emotional intelligence.
Components of EI
Daniel Goleman, who popularized emotional intelligence through his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ,” listed five components of EI:
- Self-awareness – Individuals must understand their emotions and become capable of labeling them. One must be able to identify their triggers and biases. It shouldn’t be easy to trigger someone with a random cue. Emotional intelligence demands being capable of withstanding triggers and completing a task.
- Self-regulation – The individual must be able to regulate their emotions and not get swept away by any random feeling. Self-regulation involves the person being able to manage their impulsivity in stressful situations. We often end up making impulsive decisions during panic or other stresses. Someone with high EI would be able to assess the reality and make an informed decision.
- Motivation – The person must have an everlasting drive to stay focused on their goal and not get derailed by general factors. Inner motivation should never fade away under varied circumstances. The level of enthusiasm shouldn’t go down while aiming for a target.
- Empathy – One must be able to understand the emotions of people around them and build deep and long-lasting relationships in personal and professional circles. Creating a positive impact in group dynamics by fostering understanding is essential. The element of empathy is vital to bring about a change in the way we handle relationships; with empathy, we understand others better and fulfill their needs accordingly.
- Social skills – Feelings of social withdrawal and loneliness should be eliminated, and the individual must embrace social links and create a variety of deep relationships. Having great social skills is really important these days because your networking contributes to your success rate.
High emotional intelligence reduces stress at the physical and psychological levels by reducing the risk of heart disease and decreasing the incidence of depression and anxiety. At the workplace, people working under bosses with high EI perform way better than others in terms of morale, productivity, teamwork, and client interaction. People with high EI are generally happier because they manage emotions wisely and don’t let negative feelings overpower them. Regular self-reflection, mindfulness, and empathetic interactions are key to maintaining high emotional intelligence.
Consequences of a Low EI
A low EI indicates a lot of emotional turmoil and suffering for the individual.
Low EI has been associated with troubled relationships, impulsive behavior, and low stress tolerance.
People with low emotional intelligence end up with anger outbursts, broken relationships, and an inability to stay calm under stress. They face problems with making meaningful connections and have difficulty handling criticism. Thus, it’s important to focus on emotional intelligence.
Conclusion
It’s crucial for the world to look at the phenomenon of emotional intelligence and understand its importance. Parents and bosses must come to terms with the fact that their kids and employees need to have a level of emotional intelligence inculcated in them to cope with their stresses. With the rise in the significance of EI, the world shall become a better place for many. We should all keep a check on our emotions.
