Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ) is defined has a person who has control of their emotions. It is certainly more involved than that, but at it’s core, it’s “understanding and controlling one’s emotions”.

When your EI is in check, you feel like you are in a good place. Ask yourself, even right now, how do I feel. Unsettled, upset, on edge, anxious, guilty, angry, if any of these come to mind for you, then your EI level is very low.

On the other side, if you feel peaceful, in love, happy or inspired, your EI is peeking at a very high level. So it’s easy to see who’s in the better place.

People with high emotional intelligence are all around us and conversely so are the very low EI people. Just like the Law of Attraction says that “like attracts like”, people with low level EI seem to attract other toxic personalities all the time. Which camp would you prefer to be in?

More advanced companies are taking a Holistic Recruiting stance these days. Meaning they are looking at the complete employee and not just the typical education and work experience. If your emotional intelligence level is low, they will know it, and not likely hire you. They know from experience that high EI people tend to make the best team players, simply because they are able to control their emotions in the workplace.

Other than having advanced communication skills, promising young executives are developing their emotional intelligence¸ as it’s the sure fire skill set to move them up the ladder quickly. Look around and you’ll notice the most successful people all have higher than average emotional intelligence leadership skills.

Of course having high emotional intelligence isn’t reserved for just the workplace. The best personal relationships are those that have great EI between the partners. Not one, but both people. They keep their emotions in check at all times, an inner peace and harmony always maintained. We tend to say these couples just have great chemistry, that chemistry is called emotional intelligence.

Consider this, if you are very anxious about your financial situation, or frustrated with your weight loss program not working or unhappy about your personal relationship, chances are your emotional intelligence test level is very low. When your emotions are getting the best of you, it just makes sense that you can’t focus and essentially, just stay stuck right where you are.

Scientists tell us it takes 30 days to reprogram old habitual thinking. If you started today, making emotional harmony your number one goal, you’ll come away with fresh new thinking, and a much higher emotional intelligence level in a few short weeks. It will change the way you see yourself and everything else around you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Perras is a registered Professional Manager (P.Mgr) through the Canadian Institute of Management. He has 30 years tenure in the communications sector.

As a communications specialist he consults individuals and companies on Emotional Intelligence in the workplace, the art of Extreme Listening and Holistic Recruiting. He also mentors clients privately at $85.00 per hour. He can be reached at mikeperras@hotmail.com