Emotional Intelligence Skills: An Impactful Skillset

Christina Tziouvara

Studies suggest that emotional intelligence skills can be of equal importance to IQ; however, in many instances emotional intelligence prevails. Emotional intelligence is correlated to better work performance; and by extension, it can be a significant parameter to success in life at large, compared to cognitive aspects. In particular, research indicate that IQ influences the 20% of success in a person’s life; on the contrary, emotional intelligence’s impact is 80%.

The Context of Emotional Intelligence and its Impact

Emotional intelligence is the soft skill, where a person can acknowledge one’s feelings; understand them; and, manage them. In addition, this capacity extents to others, by being able to identify other people’s emotions; understand them; and, influence them. Apparently, it is a capacity with bidirectional impact, both for oneself and others.

There are 4 pillars that suggest emotional intelligence; and, each of these pillars consists of skills subsets.

  • Self-Awareness: This subset refers to the ability of acknowledging your own feelings. In addition, this element expands to mapping your strong and weak traits and how they operate; and by extension, reinforces self-confidence.
  • Management of Self: This pillar is about regulating the emotions and thoughts, when expressed; and, is linked to traits of maturity. Hence, we refer to the skills, such as: emotional self-control; self-motivation, even in the occasion of obstacles; flexibility to changes; adopt a positive perspective.
  • Empathy: An empathetic person has the capacity to establish connection with others. Furthermore, the quality extends to actions that facilitate team effort. This element suggests being an active listener. Finally, empathy encompasses the ability related to presenting yourself and assessing how others respond to it.
  • Social Relationships Management: This is the component connected to the skills, such as: being a motivational leader; having persuasive skills; capacity of conflict resolution; encourage change, when needed; foster teamwork; contribute to development of other people, among others.


A healthy expression of this skillset can contribute to various aspects of a person’s life, such as:

  • It affects health, both physical and psychological.
  • It is linked to successful academic course.
  • It contributes to engaging into healthy relationships.
  • And, high level of emotional intelligence enhances control over feelings in overwhelming circumstances etc.

Contribution in the Workplace

Obviously, it is a skillset that can be applied in many contexts, including within workplace. In fact, there are job profiles that it is prerequisite, such as: nurses, social workers etc. High emotional intelligence manifested at work can prove to be advantageous, both on personal work performance and on group as well.

First of all, it is a skill that affects a person’s social skills, in a beneficial manner; and by extension, contributes to establishment of quality communications and relationships at workplace. In addition, people with acute emotional intelligence can be active listeners and provide constructive feedback to coworkers. It is a skillset correlated with one’s composure under pressuring circumstances; and, a poised worker contributes to stress management in a group level. Moreover, people equipped with pertinent skills are considered better at achieving goals and team players.

Manifesting a mentality of high emotional intelligence facilitates the formation of a workplace culture with trust, engagement, accountability, and cohesion. It is a valuable qualification to cope with demanding conditions and circumstances of change at work.

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Techniques to Boost Emotional Intelligence Skills

Αs most skills, emotional intelligence qualifications can be taught and developed further. Moreover, there are tools that can calculate your emotional intelligence performance. Here are suggestions, per pillar, to strengthen your emotional intelligence.

Self-Awareness:
  • Find your way to contemplate on your performance and experiences. A good practice could be to keep a journal.
  • Furthermore, try to adopt a mindset of growth.
  • Learn new skills.
  • And, set goals.
Management of Self:
  • Pay attention to the patterns in your thoughts, especially the negative ones; and try to change them.
  • Make an effort to control your emotional responses, including skills related distress tolerance.
  • Find your way to cope with negative feelings; and, try to change the way you perceive situations.
  • It would also be helpful to your boost communication skills.


Social Relationships Management:
  • Become an observer of other people social skills.
  • Practice and improve your social skills.
  • Work on become an active listener.
  • Keep eye contact.·
  • Take an interest on other people.


Empathy:
  • Practice your ability to be in somebody's shoes.
  • Find ways to become a careful listener.


In summary, a crude definition of emotional intelligence is the soft skill that affects the process of channeling feelings to thoughts and expression in a healthy manner. Emotional intelligence skills have positive impact in any context applied; in fact, on personal level this skillset can contribute to self-actualization.