In this first installment in a 4-part series about emotional intelligence, award-winning coach, speaker, and author Ros Cardinal discusses the basics of emotional intelligence and how you can begin to improve your emotional intelligence today.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE?
WHAT IS
Simply put, emotional intelligence is the capacity
to be aware of and effectively control and
express your emotions. This allows you to
handle interpersonal relationships both
judiciously and empathetically.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE?
WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT
Many experts now agree that a person's emotional
intelligence (EQ) is more important than their IQ, as
it's a better predictor of success, mental well-being
and happiness, your leadership skills, and the
quality of your relationships.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE?
WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT
Furthermore, high emotional intelligence is quickly
becoming a coveted workplace skill. Those with high
emotional intelligence tend to be excellent at
conflict resolution in addition to working well with
others and being flexible.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE?
WHAT MAKES UP
In 1997, a four-branch model was created to
describe four skills in particular that could help
anyone develop and enhance their emotional
intelligence. Known as the Mayer & Salovey Model,
the four skills it highlights are as follows...
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE?
WHAT MAKES UP
Identify Emotions
Use Emotions
Understand Emotions
Manage Emotions
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
THE FOUR SKILLS OF
One of the skills that many people struggle with at the
onset is the first one in the Mayer & Salovey model:
the ability to identify their emotions. What follows are
simple strategies you can implement immediately to
finally get a hold on this unique ability.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
It can be said that emotions are simply data, bits of
information that are telling us something about how
we (or others) are feeling about a situation or a
decision.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
When we ignore our emotions and put them to the
side, therefore, we’re essentially tossing vital feedback
out the window. Instead, allow your emotions to bring
you information using the strategies that follow...
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
"MONITOR"
Check in with yourself at the beginning of each day. Ask yourself
questions like: How do I feel at the moment? What is my
thinking style right now? How do I need to feel for the rest of
the day to be most effective? What strategies can I use to move
myself into that emotional head space?
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
"KEEP A MOOD DIARY"
A few times a day, try to record the emotion you’re feeling and
the events that immediately preceded that emotion. This will
enable you to keep track of patterns in your emotional life,
which can often give you a clearer picture of how you respond
to certain situations.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
"ANALYSE"
You also want to think about how you express your emotions. For
instance, do emotions show up in your facial expression, in your tone
of voice, or in your body language? Or all three? Being aware of how
you express your emotions can help you to better manage your
reactions in instances when it serves you better to ‘keep your cool’.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
"USE YOUR EQ RADAR"
Become aware of the emotions of others. All it requires is that
you pay closer attention to people, especially to their facial
expressions, vocal tones, and body language (i.e. avoiding eye
contact, crossing arms, etc.). There’s a wealth of information
in these subtle cues.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IDENTIFYING
EMOTIONS
SKILL #1
When you’re better able to recognise and identify your
emotions, you’ll soon start to see that you have a good ‘read’
on people. Besides that, recognising emotions in others is
also critical to effectiveness. It is fundamental to negotiating,
conflict management and is a core leadership skill.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR
In the next installment of this 4-part series, we'll discuss
strategies for skill #2: using your emotions in a way that
positively influences not only your own thinking but that of
others.
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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR
We hope you enjoyed this presentation!
Visit www.shapingchange.com.au for more resources on
leadership development, change management, emotional
intelligence, and more!