Recent research suggests that emotional intelligence (EI) is an important factor in successful leadership, relationships, work productivity, and overall happiness. While there are many theories about what makes up EI, most agree that it is determined by your perception of and reaction to emotions in yourself and others.

By understanding how you perceive and respond to emotions, you can improve your own EQ. This can be done through practicing self-awareness, using emotion regulation strategies, and developing empathy.

It’s easy to think that other people have more emotional intelligence than you do, but the truth is we all have equal amounts of it. It just may not be very strong or well developed.

Leaders with high levels of emotional intelligence understand that success does not come from being louder or better at expressing feelings, but instead, they recognize and manage their own emotions.

They also know what motivates and de-motivates each other, and use this information to help achieve group goals. They are aware of their strengths and weaknesses, which helps them set appropriate expectations and avoid burnout.

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Emotional intelligence isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone, but anyone can develop its skills. It’s a quality that can be learned and improved upon over time.

Relationship between emotional intelligence and happiness

Recent research suggests that people who are high in emotional quotient (EQ) also tend to be happier than others. On the other hand, individuals with low EQ may be happy for a short period of time before things go wrong and they become unhappy.

It has been noted that people who are highly emotionally intelligent show higher levels of self-confidence, trust, empathy, and motivation. They are also said to experience more positive emotions such as joy and gratitude compared to those who are less empathetic.

Overall, being able to recognize and manage your own emotions is an important factor in achieving personal growth and wellness.

Ways to improve emotional intelligence

One of the most important things you can do to develop your emotional literacy is recognize when someone is trying to put you down or make you feel bad about yourself.

This happens in many forms, including making comments that belittle your work, saying how much money people with less education than you have made through their career, or questioning whether you should spend money on such and such because “you never know if it was really needed.”

All these examples are ways to show lack of respect for you as an individual and person. It is also a way to emphasize why emotional illiteracy is harmful – it can hurt you physically, emotionally, and socially.

If this situation has already happened, try not to take too long to recover. More times than not, people who lack empathy are very conscious of doing something wrong, so they try harder next time to be more sensitive.

However, what may help is looking at the patterns behind the behavior. If someone always makes similar negative remarks, maybe it is worth asking questions like, ‘Does this go unnoticed or unseen when she feels criticized? Does she feel insecure or guilty after talking back?’

It could also be her version of going without food or water – she might need some time to process what you said before she can relate to others and enjoy her daily life.

Practice meditation

It is difficult to develop emotional intelligence if you do not practice mindfulness. This can be done through regular yoga or tai chi classes, practicing breathing exercises, or even just sitting down every day for five minutes to focus on your breath.

Mindfulness has been linked with higher levels of EQ because it teaches people to pay more attention to their emotions. By being aware of what you are feeling, you will be able to recognize which feelings are appropriate and which ones are not.

You may also find that having higher levels of EI makes your daily life feel better. This could mean happier relationships, work colleagues who trust you more, or maybe even less stress and depression.

Given how important our mental health is, developing your emotional skills should be considered an integral part of overall wellness.

Speak to your friends

It’s hard to tell if someone is emotional intelligent or not, but one of the things that can be determined is whether they are in control of their emotions. If you have a friend who seems to get more angry with you than you do with each other after a disagreement, then they probably don’t control their own emotions very well.

It's important to remember that people put up emotional walls for a reason — we're all human! Breaking down those barriers takes work, which is why it is helpful to have friends that help you strengthen your EI.

Talking about how you feel sometimes makes us uncomfortable, so having supportive friends helps you work on your empathy. You will also need to acknowledge when someone has done something empathetic or kind.

If there's ever a time when you think someone no longer needs your support, stop being friendly to them and focus on yourself instead. Yours may be the last chance you get to connect with this person, so make sure you're investing in yourself at this difficult time.

Learn to laugh

A lot of people have a problem laughing, they think that if you can’t make funny faces or sounds then you are not able to enjoy humor. This is wrong!

It is very possible to develop your emotional intelligence by learning how to start jokes and telling stories. Learning how to tell a joke or story with no punchline or conclusion is also an important part of developing your ability to be humorous.

By being able to recognize when something is funny you will find it easier to laugh.

You do not need to feel like you have to use humor in every situation to be considered intelligent, but being aware of what makes others happy and giving them opportunities to show off their comedic talent is one way to increase your EI.

If you want to learn more about why it is important to be able to laugh and how to do so, read over our article on this topic.

Share your feelings

Most people are not good at sharing their emotions. You may have experienced this when you were in high school or college, where some of your friends could be very close with you, but never tell you anything serious.

This can sometimes feel like there is something wrong you do say, even if it’s just to ask how someone is doing. Or maybe you’ve got so used to them keeping things hidden that you stop asking because you think they’ll tell you whatever you want to hear.

It’s important to share your innermost thoughts and feelings.

If you've got a friend who seems less friendly than before, try talking about why. Is he or she struggling with work? family issues? health problems?

By being aware of what's going on for each other, you'll both know what to do next. And don't forget that you should trust each other enough to talk honestly.

Look on the bright side of life

Recent studies show that emotional intelligence can have significant benefits for your career and personal life. You may be able to improve upon your own EQ by looking for ways to hone these skills, or learn how others manage their emotions.

Many employers now require employees to keep an open conversation during meetings, which helps develop people communication skills. In fact, successful businesspeople are considered to have strong communication skills.

In general, people with higher levels of EI tend to enjoy their jobs more than those who don’t. They may even feel happier at work, which makes them more productive workers.

So why not look into whether you have some soft spots and see if there is anything you can do to fix them? While it might sound cliché, trying to put yourself in other person’s shoes can help you understand them better.

Also, learning about emotion regulation can make a big difference. This includes things like practicing relaxation exercises, understanding when appropriate time to let off steam is, and knowing what to do after you have.