In the
business world, people with high emotional intelligence, known as a high EQ
(emotional quotient) are known to be more empathetic to others, which enables
them to more effectively manage conflicts, read and respond to co-worker needs
and keep their own emotions from disrupting their performance.
A high EQ is
particularly important in consulting professions; it’s a skill that we as
financial professionals work on as much as understanding financial trends.
That’s because we must do more than educate and evaluate our clients’ finances;
we must understand the pressures you feel and how you cope with volatility and
change in order to offer guidance for your personal situation.
[CLICK HERE to read the article,
“Emotional Intelligence – EQ,” from Forbes, Jan. 2, 2014.]
In
the corporate world, a high EQ can have as much impact as experience and
expertise, particularly in today’s global economy. Studies have found that one
of the core competencies of a global executive is the ability to modify his or
her leadership style based on cultural expectations. For example, while an
authoritative style is effective in the U.S. and the U.K., other cultures, such
as China, Japan and India, require a more reserved, respectful approach.
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “11 Key
Characteristics of a Global Business Leader,” from University of Virginia Darden
School of Business, Jan. 16, 2014.]
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Leading
Across Cultures Is More Complicated for Women,” from Harvard Business Review,
Dec. 2, 2015.]
Developing
a higher EQ also has become an issue in the classroom. Children today are
suffering from stress and stress-related disorders in growing numbers, so much
so that educators have introduced coping skills into the curriculum -- a
process called S.E.L., which stands for social and emotional learning.
Today’s
schoolchildren are more likely to experience stress due to the exhaustive
testing environment mandated in schools and the demands of time management due
to a full schedule of after-school and weekend activities -- not to mention
school shooting drills that have sadly become a necessity to help protect
children from the pervasive threat of violence.
Unfortunately, the part of the brain that deals with stress is the same as that used for learning, so introducing coping skills is necessary to help students achieve more academically. The S.E.L. program helps students become more aware of their feelings and learn to relate more peacefully with others.
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Teaching
Peace in Elementary School,” from The New York Times, Nov. 14, 2015.]
The
good news is our level of emotional intelligence can be improved with more
awareness and training. For example, it’s better to recognize and explore why
we have certain feelings rather than (or before) we tamp them down.
We
also should pay more attention to the clues our body sends, such as why you get
a knot in your stomach in anticipation of seeing a certain person. One
interesting tactic is to ask a co-worker or loved one to describe how they know
when you’re angry or stressed out -- you may discover consistent patterns of
behavior of which you were previously unaware.
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “10 Ways
to Enhance Your Emotional Intelligence,” from Psychology Today, Jan. 2, 2012.]
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Test your Emotional Intelligence: Free EQ
Quiz,” from Institute for Health and Human Potential, 2014.]
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