How high is your Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence

EQ and IQ

According to the work of Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) contributes an 80% to success in life. On the other hand, IQ provides the rest 20%. Although none of them is considered fixed and permanent, Emotional Intelligence has the greater margins for growth. In other words, EQ can be trained. Let’s check the levels of our own EQ and see how we can improve it!

Exercise: Check your EQ

Below, you will find a list of qualities, people with high emotional intelligence demonstrate. Check which of those you possess and give them a mark from 1-10.

1. [ ] ​Self-control and self-discipline
2. [ ] Impulse control
3. [ ] Openness, adaptation and embracing change
4. [ ] Ability to perform under conditions of pressure
5. [ ] Good understanding of own emotions
6. [ ] Good understanding of the emotions of others
7. [ ] Awareness of strengths and weaknesses
8. [ ] Optimism
9. [ ] Self-confidence
10. [ ] Good communication skills
11. [ ] Acceptance of criticism by other people
12. [ ] Disagreeing without causing tension
13. [ ] Offering constructive criticism
14. [ ] Initiative taking
15. [ ] Cultivating trust in relationships
16. [ ] Self-motivation in order to reach goals
17. [ ] Ability to lead and influence
18. [ ] Resist prejudice
19. [ ] Decisiveness
20. [ ] Persuasion
21. [ ] Patience
22. [ ] Persistence
23. [ ] Curiosity
24. [ ] Ability to inspire others
25. [ ] Cooperating without competing
26. [ ] Teamworking
27. [ ] Maintaining control in crisis situations
28. [ ] Control impatience
29. [ ] Ability to focus
30. [ ] Acceptance of defeat and failure
31. [ ] Listening before talking
32. [ ] Acceptance of our weaknesses
33. [ ] Personal and work ethics
34. [ ] Ability to neutralize toxic people
35. [ ] Giving without expecting
36. [ ] Knowing when and feeling comfortable saying no
37. [ ] Ability to slow down, disconnect and relax
38. [ ] Quick recovery after a mistake or failure
39. [ ] Robust emotional vocabulary
40. [ ] Resist perfectionism

I have vs I want

Now, identify which skills you already have and which you want. Check those that you score high and those you score low. Then, write them down in two separate columns, as shown of the following table:

Lock the target

Finally, let’s lock the target. Make a special note of those which seem particularly appealing to you. That is, the ones you would like to see in your new version. You need to be clear about why you want them. Also, what will be the benefit of having them. If you know any people possessing these qualities, why not take them as role models?

Let this new realization linger in your mind for the days to come. As long as you keep it in your radar, you will surely find the ways to upgrade yourself.

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Also, see the article: Gratitude Jar: Empower your gratitude muscles!