We hope you are healthy and safe, and that things remain that way with every one of you. 

Have you ever wondered if there is a factor or set of factors that play a critical role in your job performance or promotions? There is. Emotional intelligence influences about 58% of our individual success across all job types. That’s a huge piece of your career strategy.

Commonly known as EQ, emotional intelligence is an individual’s ability to accurately recognize, understand and manage their own emotions as well as that of others. It’s closely linked to performance—a key trait for ongoing success in the work world.

What Constitutes EQ?

• Self awareness – with a clear understanding of your emotions, strengths and challenges, it’s easier to own up to your mistakes and process situations.
• Self management – with self awareness, you avoid acting on negative emotions and are better able to stay connected instead.
• Empathy – the ability to pick up on other people’s feelings. As a result, you take people’s emotions into consideration while choosing your words and actions. This makes you more likely to work well with others and handle difficult situations without hurting the sentiments of others.
• Social skills – crucial for anyone’s success, people with a higher than average EQ tend to get along well with others and make excellent team players, demonstrating the ability to focus on the social aspects of business as well as the product.

Tips to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence

• Practice self-awareness and learn to understand your feelings. Write down your thoughts if it makes it easier to observe and assess your emotions. 
• Pay close attention to your words and actions, and observe if you’re reacting or responding to situations. If you notice you’re reacting, it might be a good idea to take things a bit slower. 
• Listen carefully. Focus on fostering meaningful relationships.
• Embrace openness and make culture a priority wherever you go.
• When adversity hits, become curious. This will help you stay engaged even if you’re reeling on the inside.

Smart leaders and engaged employees are driven by opportunities and the future rather than by their egos. Instead of worrying about superficialities, dig deeper, stay vigilant, track trends, and stay open to embrace the flow of new ideas.

We welcome your feedback on this unprecedented journey and look forward to hearing what works for you, your friends, and your family! 

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Resources
Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Self test
Forbes
Harvard Business Review