Just a few decades ago, no one questioned the importance of the IQ as a criterion of excellence in life. At that time, all the debates were reduced to whether this quotient had a genetic origin or if, on the contrary, it was the product of experience.
But something changed. Thanks to various investigations, a new expression burst onto the scene: emotional intelligence. Few imagined back then, the repercussion that this concept would have today.
Since that time, many myths have emerged regarding the emotional quotient. For example, in some places I have read statements as risky as the CE explains around 80% of success and the CI the remaining 20%. Although this is only an estimate, we cannot forget that there are many factors that determine that 80% and they do not have to be strictly linked to emotional intelligence. As, for example, health, the education we have received in our family, our temperament, simple chance, etc.
However, what has been demonstrated is that in some domains, emotional skills such as emotional self-regulation and empathy are more decisive than strictly cognitive skills. Let's take an example. In the case of health, it is widely verified that "people who manage their affective lives in a more conscious and calm way enjoy comparatively better health". In the realm of personal relationships and love, we have all seen very stupid people do very smart things. On the other hand, in the workplace, the IC predicts the professional ladder that a certain person can access. But what happens when it is necessary to determine who, from a wide range of people with a high IQ, will end up reaching a leadership position? It is the factors related to Emotional Intelligence (and not IQ or technical skills) that best "discriminate" among a group of equally intelligent people which of them will show a greater leadership capacity.
Therefore, how can we improve our emotional intelligence in order to try to achieve the best version of ourselves? It is important to develop these 5 basic skills:
- Knowledge of your own emotions. The key to emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize a feeling the moment it appears. If we are not able to perceive what we feel, we are at your mercy. People who are more certain of what their emotions are tend to direct their lives better because they have a secure knowledge of what their real feelings are (for example, when choosing a partner, or a job).
- The ability to control emotions. The ability to calm oneself, not to be carried away by anguish, sadness, irritability, etc., is an essential skill. Those who have developed this competition, struggle less with the constant stresses of life and recover much more quickly from setbacks.
- The ability to motivate oneself. Control of emotional life is extremely important to keep focus on goals and not on obstacles.
- The recognition of other people's emotions. Or also called, empathy. In other words, knowing how to put ourselves in the other's place helps us in our social and work relationships and in naturally developing in our environment. Empathic people tend to tune in better to social cues that indicate what people need or want.
- Control of relationships. It is not only important to recognize the emotion of the other, but also to relate appropriately with what he feels.
Although we all have cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence, the latter provides, by far, the kind of qualities that help us become our best version. If you consider that you need to develop one or more of these essential emotional intelligence competences, at Healthy Work we can help you.
Maria Jose Ortega