Today we are going to talk about EQ, or Emotional Intelligence (emotional quotient).
What it is, why it is important and what you can do to improve yours.
I've got a special guest today, my dear friend Megan Bradley. Megan is a local leader who has been elected to numerous local government positions. She's in the government so she needs all the EQ she can muster!
In a nutshell it's the ability to understand, manage, and use your own emotions in a positive way to communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict and in the end build better relationships. It includes being able to do the following 4 things when interacting with others.
Self-awareness – You recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. You know your strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence.
Self-management – You’re able to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Social awareness – You have empathy. You can understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization.
Relationship management – You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.
