What is emotional intelligence and why is it important?

What is emotional intelligence and why is it important?
What are the ways to improve emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence (also known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use and manage your own emotions in positive ways to reduce stress, communicate effectively, empathise with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.
Emotional intelligence can help you build stronger relationships, achieve success at school and work, and reach your career and personal goals. It can also help you connect with your emotions, act on your intentions and make informed decisions about your personal goals. It is therefore of great importance.
For this reason, societies need to develop their emotional intelligence in understanding and helping people of different religions, languages, races and genders with whom they live. This development can be achieved through the following steps.
Seven Components of Emotional Intelligence;
 Self-awareness
When we are self-aware, we know our strengths and weaknesses as well as how we react to situations and people. This knowledge can help us to set boundaries and manage our interactions with others in our own unique way. Also, when we know ourselves well, we can be more effective communicators as we can better understand the other person and what they are looking for in a conversation. Finally, by being self-aware, we can work to improve ourselves and our lives in ways that are meaningful to us.
 Self-management
Self-management is the process of taking responsibility for one's life and making decisions that affect oneself. It is about being proactive and responsible for one's own well-being. Self-management involves setting goals, taking action to achieve those goals and monitoring progress along the way. It also means being flexible and adaptable, adjusting one's plans as needed to achieve one's goals.
 Self-regulation
Because they are self-aware, emotionally intelligent people are able to regulate their emotions and keep them under control when necessary.
 Motivation
People with high emotional intelligence also tend to be highly motivated, which makes them more resilient and optimistic. They find ways to enjoy life even in difficult times and are always looking for ways to improve themselves. This makes them more successful in all aspects of their lives.
 Empathy
People with empathy and compassion are more successful in connecting with other people. They have the ability to see things from other people's perspectives, which enables them to build relationships based on mutual understanding and respect. People with empathy and compassion can also easily relate to other people's emotions, which makes them better at providing support and comfort. Finally, people with empathy and compassion tend to be more altruistic and are more likely to go out of their way to help others. All of these qualities make people with empathy and compassion some of the most valuable members of any community.
 Social Skills
The social skills of emotionally intelligent people show that they genuinely care about, respect and get along with others.
 Relationship Management
Relationship management is the process of building and maintaining positive relationships with customers, clients, partners and others who can help the organisation achieve its goals. Effective relationship management can lead to increased sales, improved customer loyalty and higher levels of customer satisfaction.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or Agency for International Programs for Youth. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.