When it comes to the skills needed to enhance emotional intelligence, they do not necessarily come naturally. But before we consider emotional intelligence skills, what are emotions?
Traditionally, emotions are represented these days as mental processes that should be suppressed. Sadly, women have been stereotyped over the centuries as the ones whose emotions need self-regulation.
In fact, female hysteria was a common medical diagnosis which was classified as a mental disorder. Men, on the other hand, who tend to suppress their emotions naturally have been pressured to find ways to develop the skills needed to enhance emotional intelligence.
Today, moods and emotion are still linked to intelligence and reasoning, however, society’s perception of things like social awareness, social skills and empathy have shifted. One of the causes of this was the ground-breaking book called Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman which has resulted in the growing belief that emotional intelligence is characterised by self-awareness and empathy. Not only that but it these examples of emotional intelligence are fast becoming ranked as essential for interpersonal relationships, self-management and job performance.
As an ever-expanding area of study, the skills needed to enhance emotional intelligence are increasing as research unearths more knowledge on the subject.
Additional examples of emotional intelligence are coming to the fore more than ever and social intelligence, as well as the idea of multiple intelligences, is becoming a popular area of study. If you are keen to understand and develop the skills needed to enhance emotional intelligence, or if you want to know what emotional intelligence is characterised by, keep reading.
Have you heard of an emotional intelligence test? If not, they do exist. An emotional intelligence test will measure your awareness of self and others, your social skills and how well you manage your emotions.
In short, emotional intelligence is characterised by the competence to read the subtle nuances in situations. It is also an awareness of one’s own feelings and those of others.
If you want to develop more self-control over your emotions or feel more empowered over the actions that govern your relationships, then taking an emotional intelligence test or delving further into examples of emotional intelligence could be a good time investment.
In this article, you will be introduced to the history of emotional intelligence as well as why it is relevant in every aspect of life today including career development and relationships.
Don’t miss our additional guide on all the emotional intelligence basics.
What Is Emotional Intelligence Characterised By?
The development of emotional intelligence can be a tricky concept to grasp. From the most well-known dynamic test, the MSCEIT, to knowing what emotional intelligence is characterised by, the best way to learn about the topic is to consider its history.
Being empathetic and self-awareness have never been associated with general intelligence (IQ). Traditionally, intelligence tests were seen as the only indicators of success. Even though character traits like empathy, and the ability to understand emotion, were highly acclaimed by the likes of Adam Smith and the Dalai Lama, it wasn’t until Goleman’s 90’s bestseller that the concept of social awareness and examples of emotional intelligence began to be discussed.
Apart from Goleman’s ground-breaking research, psychologists David Caruso, Peter Salovey and John Mayer were the ones who developed the emotional intelligence test. In addition, the trio have an impressive trove of publications on the topic behind their names. One of the best things about the skills needed to enhance emotional intelligence is that the same principles can be applied to everyone from salespeople to gardeners and CEOs.
In their work, Mayer, Salovey and Caruso have acknowledged four branches that make up emotional intelligence:
- Facilitating thought
- Understanding emotions
- Perceiving emotions
- Managing emotions
If you would like to know yourself better or have a better relationship with your colleagues, friends and family, reading more about the basics of emotional intelligence is an excellent place to start.
The Relevance of Emotional Intelligence Skills in the 21st Century
The theory of multiple intelligences and the honing of emotional intelligence skills have done much to introduce new leadership styles to many different professional fields. In spite of this, the relationship between being an effective leader and improving one’s mental state can be difficult to grasp. Emotions are classified as one of three or four categories of mental operations, depending on which definition you follow.
Amongst other things, examples of emotional intelligence include the ability to metaphorically ‘read the room.’ To be more precise, emotional intelligence is characterised by cognition, motivation and emotional skills that dictate most of our social and personal lives.
Of course, it doesn’t take a bestselling novel on brain science to see that managing negative emotions properly is essential to one’s well-being and mental health. Developing emotional self-literacy and even taking an emotional intelligence test to guide you can improve relationships, but also general intelligence.
Being able to identify emotional patterns in your personal life can help to set you apart both socially and professionally. Through correctly identifying the emotional response of a friend, a relationship can be saved or better understood. Doing this means being able to interpret and also display emotionally intuitive facial expressions, feelings and emotions. It makes sense that skills like these would be very beneficial in a business setting.
Once the concept of emotional intelligence is grasped, one of the benefits is that it becomes obvious that there is more to the intelligence of people than what is only represented through IQ tests. While academic success will always be a strong indicator of overall intelligence it is not enough to predict success, failure or the well-rounded abilities of a person.
If the importance of emotions is subject that interests, you then honing your EQ could be one of the ways to positively change your professional and personal life.
Develop Your Self-Awareness Skills
By improving your emotional intelligence, you could become a great community leader. It could also help to empower you to understand yourself better. One of the best ways to achieve this is by learning more about the subject through the many resources available. Good places to start are to unpack definitions and examples of emotional intelligence.
One of the best ways to test your new knowledge is to practice it. Of course, to do this, you will need situations that place you in the company of individuals as well as groups of people. Why not try
- enrol in a dance program
- learn to play a new instrument
- complete a novel
- write about your daily experiences
- learn a new professional skill
There has been extensive research on how subjects like exercise, music and introspection can improve your overall mental health.
Another way to get in touch with your emotions is to be aware of the events, language and tasks that trigger either positive or negative emotions in you. Taking stock of your emotions after a particularly stressful event is also important.
Taking up personal projects is another way to cultivate the skills needed to enhance emotional intelligence. Why not consider a DIY project or set small goals that will help you to develop and practice your emotional intelligence?
Online Resources for Developing Emotional Intelligence
Now that you know how emotional intelligence was first developed and the reasons why it can bring success to life, you may want to know more about everything related to the emotional quotient. To find out more, try some of the best books and podcasts on the subject. Here are our recommendations:
Books
Even though you will pay for these, you can enjoy a range of books in print, or on mobile reading devices. Two of the best books to start your journey to understanding emotional intelligence are Authentic Leadership by Bill George and, as already mentioned, Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence.
Websites
If you are searching for the ultimate online resources on emotional intelligence, you could start by checking out the websites Six Seconds and HelpGuide. Both sites are non-profits and based on organisations where the objective is to provide researched information on the diverse topic of emotional intelligence. From solid how-to advice on family relationships, to how to improve your emotional and mental health, these are recommended websites available to you.
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