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Signs of Emotional Intelligence
Like any skill, emotional intelligence is acquired through time and practice. However, you may already be an EI without even suspecting it.
See the following statements and consider whether they apply to you.
Think about your feelings. A lot
Emotional intelligence is directly related to thinking. You ask questions like "Why do I feel this way?" And "What made me (or someone else) say or do this?"
When you recognize emotions and reactions, you become more careful and use this information to your advantage.
Seek the point of view of others
You realize that others' opinions of you are different from your own. It is not a question of what is right or wrong. It is important to understand how the point of view differs.
You say "Thank you!"
It is surprising how widespread the lack of politeness is among people.
However, this does not apply to you. You recognize the power of that word. You know that it can change someone's day, strengthen relationships. It is for this reason that you take a moment of your time to express your gratitude.
You know when to "pause"
It is important to know when to stop and think before you take any action or say anything. In theory easy, but in practice - no.
Of course, no one is perfect. However, the ability to pause has protected you many times from exposure, made you a better employee, and even saved your relationships.
You always ask yourself "Why?"
Instead of classifying people in one way or another, you realize that there is a specific reason behind every behavior.
In your desire to develop qualities such as empathy and compassion, you try your best to look at the situation through the eyes of others. You ask yourself questions like "Why does this person feel this way?" And "What's going on behind the scenes?"
This way you can connect with almost anyone.
You are open to criticism
No one likes to receive critical feedback. Even yourself.
However, you know that it often contains a grain of truth. Even when it is not served in the perfect way.
Criticism also helps you understand how other people think. That's why you learn to control your emotions and try to learn as much as possible.
You constantly consider the reaction of others
The moment you meet someone, you begin to analyze them. You just can't stop.
However, these observations of yours also have their advantages. You realize that everything you say and does has a potential effect on others. Accordingly, you begin to focus not only on what you say but also on the way you say it.
You apologize
You know that "I'm sorry" is one of the hardest words to say. However, you are also aware of its power.
When you admit your mistakes and apologize appropriately, you begin to develop qualities such as modesty and authenticity. And that attracts other people.
You forgive
You know that no one is done. Accordingly - you are aware of the fact that the inability to forgive is equal to a knife left in a wound. You will never let her heal.
Instead of keeping the insult to yourself, you forgive others and move on with your life.
You have a rich emotional vocabulary
When you know how to express your feelings, you increase your ability to understand them. Are you sad? You are trying to understand why - are you disappointed, are you hurt? What is the reason?
By expanding your active "emotional vocabulary", you learn when it is necessary to take action.
Praise sincerely and for specific things
You are constantly looking for the good in people. You tell them what you value in them. This inspires them. In this way, working with you is enjoyable, and your employees are motivated to give their best.
Try to control your thoughts
People say you can't stop a bird from landing on your head, but you can stop it from building a nest.
When you find yourself in a negative situation, you often have no control over your natural emotional response.
However, you are in control of what happens next: you focus on thinking.
Instead of delving into these feelings and thinking about how unfair the situation is, you turn what happened into something positive. You develop a plan through which you begin to move forward.
You are flexible in your dealings with people
It is a bad habit to judge others without considering the context and circumstances that led to their actions.
You don't do that. On the contrary - you know that everyone has a bad day, even a bad year. When you refuse to classify people, your opinion of them remains flexible and you get the most out of your relationships with them.
Analyze your weaknesses
It takes courage to recognize your own weaknesses. However, until you start working on them, you will not improve.
When you analyze situations in which you have lost control of your emotions, you begin to develop your own strategy that will help you in the future.
You know that emotions can be used against you
Like any skill, emotional intelligence can be used both ethically and unethically. It is often an effective means of manipulation.
That's why you improve your emotional intelligence to protect yourself from such situations.