What are the 5 Levels of Emotional Intelligence?
Share this article:
We all know about IQ, or intelligence quotient, but did you know that EQ or emotional quotient is, in some ways, just as important? More commonly known as emotional intelligence, this is a value skillset to have and understand both in business, and in daily life.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is a term, first coined by researchers Peter Salovey and John Mayer, to explain one’s ability to perceive, understand, demonstrate, control, and utilize emotions to connect and communicate effectively with others. It emphasizes the importance of not only being able to control and reasonably express our own emotions, but also the ability to pick up on and respond to other people’s emotions, as well.
Why is Emotional Intelligence Important?
Some researchers believe that emotional intelligence is actually more important than IQ when it comes to finding success in life. The ability to interact with others, is, after all, at the heart of so much of the human experience, that being able to do so adeptly matters immensely.
Having a high emotional intelligence allows you to identify what people are feeling, gives you an awareness of your own strengths and limitations, boosts your self-confidence, makes it easier for you to let go of mistakes and accept change, and so much more. It contributes to your sense of empathy and sensitivity towards others, and even makes it easier to accept your own mistakes. In difficult situations, emotional intelligence can allow you to manage your emotions and weather a crisis easier.
How to Recognize a Lack of Emotional Intelligence
In the workplace, as well as in one’s personal life, a lack of emotional intelligence can make itself apparent in a variety of ways. Most obviously is an inability to manage or even express your own emotions. This can lead to blaming others instead of taking ownership for your actions, and cause you to have a short fuse, and react irrationally or disproportionately to small triggers.
People who lack emotional intelligence may also be unable to actively listen to others, or appropriately acknowledge someone else’s concerns or point of view. Empathy is at the core of emotional intelligence, so a lack of this can cause you to seem cold, unfeeling, or unable to relate to others.
What are the Components of Emotional Intelligence?
There are five major components of emotional intelligence, and to be truly evolved emotionally, you must consider each of them in your day-to-day interactions with others, as well as your understanding of yourself. The first step is understanding each component, so let’s take a look at them and what they mean.
Self-Awareness
In 1972, psychologists Shelley Duval and Robert A. Wicklund described self-awareness as “the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don’t align with your internal standards.” Basically, self-awareness is your ability to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and understand how your emotions can affect a situation. Before you can be a great collaborator or communicator with others, you must first be aware of yourself.
Self-Discipline
Once you can identify your own thoughts and emotions, and see how they can affect a situation, the next step is learning how to control emotions and impulses. It’s okay to feel angry, or fearful, or even resentful from time to time, but someone who is emotionally intelligent has the self-discipline to allow yourself to feel these things for a brief time, and then let them go. There are techniques to help with this, such as meditation and deep breathing, that can make the process easier when you first begin.
Motivation
Now that your emotions are controlled, you can harness them into self-motivation. You can set goals for yourself, and make sure you stay motivated enough to achieve them. This can be accomplished by minimizing the effect of negative emotions, and letting positive ones guide you closer to your end goal.
Empathy
Empathy can be difficult, if not impossible, for those with low emotional intelligence. If you don’t understand your own emotions, it’s very hard to understand where someone else is coming from, or how they feel. Part of this is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but true empathy is more than that. It’s also the ability to set aside any opinions, judgements, and preconceived notions so that you can really look at a situation from another person’s perspective. It’s about being tolerant and open-minded, rather than fixating on being right.
Relationship Management
Once you’ve mastered the first four components, it’s time to apply what you’ve learned to your relationships. An emotionally evolved and intelligent person truly hears not only the words someone says, but also understands the emotion and intention behind them. They stop to actually listen, rather than having a pre-loaded response ready to go. They are able to respond with honesty and sensitivity, because they treat all others with respect and compassion.
How to Improve or Develop Emotional Intelligence
Trying to develop high emotional intelligence on your own can be tricky, especially when you’re first starting out. This is one of the many reasons people choose to work with a life coach. An experienced life coach like Jonette Dyer can help you, through her personal coaching services and leadership coaching, learn about self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Working with a life coach can build self-esteem and self-confidence, which both contribute to EQ. Additionally, she can work with you on identifying your core values, understanding your emotions, and improving your personal and professional relationships with the people in your life. To start your journey towards higher emotional intelligence, reach out to Jonette Dyer today to learn more about how she can help.
Connect with Us:
Imagined and executed by RivalMind.