Up your natural EQ! Emotional Intelligence is all about people skills. Folks with highly developed people skills don’t get easily upset at work (or in life) they seem to have a knack for knowing just the right thing to say and have a real gift when it comes to diffusing tense situations, even if they cannot completely resolve an issue customers leave feeling optimistic. Want to get some of their mojo for yourself?
Emotional Intelligence is about knowing yourself and being aware of your emotions as well as how those emotions affect those around you. It also involves being able to recognize the emotions of others which will help you be more effective interacting with customers and building bonds.
Emotional intelligence is the most internal and personal of all soft skills; you can’t fake ‘em but you can develop them.
Self-Awareness – Those with highly advanced people skills are typically very self-aware. This is not the same as self-centered. It does mean they are confident and trust their instincts. They understand their emotions and therefore are not controlled by them. Pay attention to how you interact with others. Are you a hot-head who easily jumps to conclusions? Well knock it off! Take a step back and just observe yourself before you automatically react.
Empathy – This is the ability to recognize the emotions of others and relate to their viewpoint even if it is different than yours. Developing your empathy will allow you to live life true to yourself. Practice people watching, notice facial expressions and body language as well as spoken words. Try to put yourself in their shoes and see how it feels.
Self-Control – Master your emotions and don’t allow yourself to become too angry or envious. Stopping to think before you act or speak will lead to better decisions, help keep you keep your inner Zen and stop you from automatically freaking out when faced with change.
Social Skills – Work diligently on being a team player, get ahead by helping others to shine rather than focusing on your own success first. Be easy to talk to and always strive to improve your communication skills. Don’t always be looking for a pat on your back for doing your job. You know what you accomplished and so does everyone else. Practice a little humbleness and you’ll be rewarded with a big fan club!