It’s not hard to understand the role of emotional intelligence when it comes to success: whether you’re born with an abundance or you have to work hard to develop a smaller share, it’s important to have at least a degree of it.
Emotional intelligence is the skill of knowing why you feel the way you do and then choosing to feel different–it’s the critical factor if you want to be successful in your life and work.
Those with high emotional intelligence find it easier to see their own weaknesses and empathize with others, while those with low emotional intelligence are more likely to be bitter and distant because of difficulties in relating to others.
Failing to cultivate emotional intelligence can hold you back–not only in your career and leadership but also in your friendships and overall success.
If any of these warning signs sound familiar to you, start today to develop your emotional intelligence. Wherever you are, it’s within reach if you’re willing to work.
1. You often feel others aren’t getting your point. If you constantly find that people don’t connect with your communication, ask yourself what you may need to do differently. Emotional intelligence means being honest with yourself and working on the places where you fall short.
2. You blame others for your problems. When you blame others, you give up your chance to grow. It’s easy to find a scapegoat for all your struggles or complications, but developing your emotional intelligence can help you understand that it’s much more productive to look for the cause of your issues in your own past. Blaming others often means you’re avoiding a difficult truth about yourself.
3. You’re bad at reading people. In business, reading people–understanding what they are saying beyond their words–is a tremendously useful skill, and an inability to read people is a strong sign that your emotional intelligence is lacking. When you become more tuned in to your own emotions, you will become more proficient at reading others.
4. You are often disappointed that people don’t understand you. When people don’t understand what you are saying, it may mean that your way of communicating is falling short or isn’t clear. Don’t expect to communicate only on your terms. Learn to communicate with your audience’s perspective in mind, not your own.
5. You’re frequently surprised by what you learn about others. Part of developing emotional intelligence is learning to recognize the patterns of people’s thoughts, words, and behavior. Understanding those patterns–and the ways in which we break them from time to time–can help you develop the kind of insight that lets you predict how people are likely to respond.
6. You lack empathy. People who are empathetic are able to understand how other people feel and how their own words and actions affect others. Someone with low emotional intelligence can unintentionally become a bully with jokes that feel insulting or mean-spirited to others. If you find it difficult to anticipate others’ needs, or if you sometimes find that people get angry with you and you don’t understand why, train yourself to pause before speaking to think about whom you’re talking to and how they might receive what you say.
7. You have difficulty forming close relationships. Being the best person you can be means forming connections with people at emotional levels, not just superficially. And the best way to do that is through emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence will lead you to success through better interactions with others, which comes from greater empathy and understanding, which in turn comes from knowing yourself and how to manage your own emotions.
Emotional intelligence can help you realize that not everything is about you–which may sound obvious but can take many years to sink in if you’re used to placing yourself at the center of the universe.
Emotional intelligence is about relationships, and relationships take two people who are willing to invest the hard work that comes with building a deeper connection.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
THE LEADERSHIP GAP
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.