Leaders are not afraid to act because they know there is often more risk in doing nothing. – Michael Josephson
For all of us, emotional intelligence encompasses five primary areas of ability. They are:
- Knowing your feelings and using them to make life decisions with which you can live.
- Being able to manage your emotional life without being hijacked by it -- not being paralyzed by depression, worry, or swept away by anger.
- Persisting in the face of setbacks and channeling your impulses to pursue your goals.
- Empathy -- reading other people's emotions without asking what they feel.
- Handling feelings in relationships with skill and harmony - articulating the unspoken pulse of a group, for example.
The scope of these skills means there is room for all of us, to grow, and improve. There is a lot to learn here. Learning about emotional intelligence and the tools for energy efficiency; is only the beginning. It is like reading all the books on sailing and small boat sailing. You then have the theory mastered, but you have no firsthand practice. It is only with an approach that we gain ability in anything. That is true of our feelings and emotions too!
The scope of these skills means there is room for us to learn, grow, and improve. There is a lot to learn here. Learning about emotional intelligence and the tools for energy efficiency; is only the beginning. It is like reading all the books on sailing and small boat sailing. You then have the theory mastered, but you have no direct practice. It is only with approaches that we gain ability in anything. That is true of our feelings and emotions too!
How do you address so many broad areas?
Assessment tools are an excellent way to learn to find your emotions.
Energy efficiency tools are invaluable in helping you tap into inner wisdom and resources to manage your emotions and understand the best choices when making life decisions.
Persistence can be learned. Supplying challenges and hardships to children to allow them to develop perseverance and “stick-to-it-ness” is intrinsic in cultures. Goal setting and a “6 Most Important Things” list are just two tools you can apply at once.
Developing empathy is powerful in critical business situations like a sales call, a closing, your management style, and more. Using your energy efficiency tools will allow you to focus on your instincts in this area instead of second-guessing yourself.
Once you learn to be the manager of your feelings, it becomes an easy habit to apply in any business or personal relationship.
Ability in all the basics does not occur overnight. But with practice, it comes very quickly - just like learning to ride a bicycle. Once you experience how it is 'supposed to work,' how energy efficiency is 'supposed to feel,' it is more accessible and easier to reestablish in various circumstances. That is where ability is achieved. That is where you and everyone in your business benefit from your knowledge.