What is Emotional Intelligence and How Does it Impact My Life?

You’ve probably heard of the concept of emotional intelligence, or EQ, before. In this post, we’ll briefly discuss what exactly emotional intelligence is and how it can impact both your professional and personal life in a positive way.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize our own internal feelings, as well as the feelings of others. Our level of emotional intelligence is a major factor in how effective we are in our relationships with others. Individuals with high emotional intelligence can:

• Identify and name one’s own emotions
• Harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem-solving
• Manage emotions, both by regulating one’s emotions and by cheering up or calming down other people

People with high emotional intelligence have an easier time connecting with others as well as understanding and regulating their own emotions and thoughts.

Every individual person has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to exhibiting EQ. Luckily, with the right emotional intelligence training, anyone can sharpen their skills and connect with themselves and others better over time.

What skills does emotional intelligence require?

At Verb, we believe emotional intelligence can be measured with six different facets:

• Self-awareness
• Self-confidence
• Self-control
• Empathy
• Motivation 
• Social competency

Keep in mind, someone could rank really high in self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-control but need work in the empathy, motivation, and social competency departments. You can improve your emotional intelligence in any of these areas with ongoing reflection, learning, and effort.

What are the benefits of emotional intelligence?

A strong level of emotional intelligence has been found to create many positive outcomes for those who exhibit it. Research has found the benefits of emotional intelligence in four main areas:

• Higher levels of resiliency
  Higher resiliency means more effective coping skills, the ability to overcome adversity more easily, and the likelihood to bounce back more quickly

• Better physical health
  Research has found that those with higher emotional intelligence experienced a bolstered immune system, lowered stress levels, less pain, more vitality, energy, and flow, and longer life span
  
• Larger social rewards
  Social rewards in the study included more satisfying marriages, longer marriage, more friends, stronger social support, and richer social interactions

• Superior work outcomes
  Employees with higher emotional intelligence saw greater productivity. higher quality of work, and higher incomes