Companies look for people with emotional intelligence in terms of leadership capabilities. People who are aware of their emotions and the emotions of others can tap into this ability to help their colleagues and customers. Discover these seven tips to help you become a better leader when you examine your EQ.
1. Read Books
Reading books, especially novels, give you better emotional intelligence because you can sympathize and empathize with characters. You can also read leadership books designed specifically to help you become an emotionally intelligent person. Consider audiobooks to listen to during your commute.
2. Hang Out
Surround yourself with people who have a higher emotional intelligence level than you. This lets you pick up tips, suggestions and nuances of people who have this ability. Spend more time with people you look up to with regards to leadership abilities. Try to emulate their behavior to see what works and what doesn't for you.
3. Learn From Your Errors
When you make a mistake, write it down to get to the heart of what happened and how you can handle a similar situation the next time it presents itself. As you write down these things more and more, you become more accustomed to analyzing your mistakes as they happen. This makes your problem-solving more efficient, and you may find yourself making fewer errors in the future.
4. Listen Actively
Learn to actively listen to co-workers and customers. Rather than formulate a solution to a problem when someone else is talking, silence your thoughts and try to see through what the person is saying. For example, a customer may call you upset about a product, but the person might also be having a bad day in general for personal reasons. Once you hear that person's side of the story, then you can formulate a solution. Someone having a bad day just might need a little pick me up to make them feel better.
5. Embrace Leisure Time
Embrace hobbies and leisure-time activities that improve your emotional intelligence. Think about volunteering, spending time with your family, meditation, taking classes or yoga. Spend more time with people rather than watching TV in terms of your free time.
6. Talk to a Therapist
Talking to a therapist can give you an emotional outlet for when you find yourself in need of someone to talk to about your life. A therapist offers a nonjudgmental atmosphere for you to discuss whatever is on your mind. A therapist might also have suggestions for improving your emotional intelligence.
7. Keep Learning
Become a better leader through lifelong learning. Keep in mind that learning doesn't necessarily mean formal classroom training. Enjoy new activities and experience life to the fullest by engaging in activities that you find agreeable.
Emotional intelligence takes time to learn and master, but the results are well worth it if you want to become a leader in your firm or your field. Over time, you may watch yourself grow into a better person because you train yourself to be aware of your emotions.
Photo courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!