How Emotional Intelligence Can Help You Grow Your Career

While a lot of people put all of their efforts into their education or intelligence, it’s not the only thing that matters when it comes to your career. When planning for a career, a lot of people only consider their education. Your career and your success in that career depend on several different factors that extend well beyond just your intelligence or IQ.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage your emotions and understand other people’s emotions. The building blocks of EI include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Let’s learn more about how emotional intelligence (EQ) can help you grow your career.

Self-Awareness

People who have a high level of emotional intelligence are more self-aware. A high level of emotional intelligence allows individuals to better manage and control their emotions. This means that they’re more willing and able to accept any criticism or feedback. They’re also more equipped to take ownership of their actions and learn from any mistakes that they make.

Self-Motivated

In addition to being more self-aware, people with high emotional intelligence are more self-motivated. They’re not as likely to be motivated by material things like power, status, or wealth. Instead, they’re more likely to be motivated just by intrinsic motivation or because of a personal interest in growth.

Welcoming of Change

Accepting change can be hard for a lot of people. For those who have a high emotional intelligence, accepting or embracing change is a little easier. People with high emotional intelligence recognize that change is part of life. Instead of resisting it, they welcome it.

Positive Attitudes

People with high emotional intelligence have a more positive attitude. They are more optimistic compared to people with lower EI. They’re also able to maintain positivity during failure or challenging times. Instead of being mad or down about making a mistake, they use it as an opportunity to learn a lesson and a chance to reflect and grow.

Better Immune System

Having a higher emotional intelligence can also help you have a better immune system. People who are able to deal with their emotions, positive and negative, instead of hiding how they’re actually feeling are able to feel better in many different areas of their lives. Hiding how you’re truly feeling may help you feel better in the moment; those true feelings can bubble up again.

This can lead to feelings of anxiety and stress. People who have a higher emotional intelligence are able to cope with difficult times in healthier ways, which can prevent them from getting sick or struggling with mental illnesses.

More Empathetic

Being sensitive is often looked at as a sign of weakness, but in reality, it can be a sign of strength. Having a high emotional intelligence allows individuals to be able to connect on a deeper level with their coworkers. People who have a higher EI are able to better understand their coworkers, collaborate more effectively, and form deeper and more meaningful relationships. This sense of empathy also means that emotionally intelligent people have more tools in their toolbelt to navigate conversations with coworkers, management, direct reports, and clients.

Next Steps

While basic intelligence is extremely important, it’s not the only thing that matters. It’s important to be well-rounded in all areas of your life. Emotional intelligence can go a long way. As you can see, there are many different benefits just within the workplace when it comes to emotional intelligence.

If you’re looking to expand upon your emotional intelligence, you’re not alone. Emotional intelligence is a skill that can constantly be improved upon. Reach out to us today to learn more about how you can work towards improving your emotional intelligence.