Increase Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Highlights from Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Gean Greaves

Emotional intelligence is the #1 predictor of professional success and personal excellence.  By learning to deal with emotions creatively, we leverage our intelligence in the most beneficial way.

• The daily challenge of dealing effectively with emotions is critical because our brains are hard-wired in a way that information passes through our emotions before it reaches our reason.  
• The communication between the emotional and rational centers of the brain is the source of  emotional intelligence (EQ).  We have control over the thoughts that follow an emotion and how we react to an emotion, as long as we are aware of it.    
• As EQ skills grow, we learn to spot our triggers and practice productive ways of responding that become habitual.
• 90% of high performers are also high in EQ.

As we build our EQ skills, our brain builds new connections for information to travel between the rational and emotional sections of our mind.  These pathways strenghten based on frequency of use, when we do something productive with our feelings.

The Four Emotional Intelligence Skills

• Self Awareness - 
• Self-awareness is the ability to accurately perceive our own emotions in the moment and understand our tendencies across situations.  It's important to understand why something gets a reaction out of us.  Emotions serve a purpose.
• People with high self-awareness are remarkably clear in their understanding of what they do well, what motivates and satisfies them, and which people and situations push their buttons.  The more we understand the beauty and blemishes, the better we are able to achieve our full potential. 

• Self Management - 
• Self-management is the ability to use the awareness of our emotions to stay flexible and direct our behavior positively.  
• Real results come from putting momentary needs on hold to pursue larger, more important goals.

• Social Awareness - 
• Social awareness is the ability to accurately pick up on emotions in other people and understand what is really going on with them.  It requires an understanding of what others are feeling, even when we don't feel the same way, and even while we're in the middle of the interaction.
• Listening and observing are the most important elements.  

• Relationship Management - 
• Relationship management is the ability to use the awareness of our own emotions and those of others to manage interactions successfully.  It's expressed through the bond we build with others after time.
• It is a product of the quality, depth, and time we spend interacting with another person.

You can get a free EQ test when you purchase the book.  There is also a ton of details to walk you through any area that you might want to dig into as well as building an action plan.  I highly recommend it! :)