Over the past few years, emotional intelligence (or EQ as it is commonly referred to) has become one of the most popular workplace qualities. Many employers look for these skills in new hires or people that they already hire. Having high levels of EQ can make a significant difference at your job, and some studies even suggest that having higher EQ could help you advance up the ladder faster.

But what does “higher” mean? And how do you develop this quality?

And more importantly, why should we care if we have lower-level EQs?

This article will talk about the different types of empathy, motivation, and leadership that are part of emotional intelligence. Along with practical strategies and tips, there will be an overview of some companies that have studied and tested emotional intelligence as a factor in employment.

Relationship between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction

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Over the past few years, there has been an increase in awareness of what is referred to as emotional quotient (EQ). Some refer to it as emotional literacy or emotional competence. However, EQ seems like a much more appealing term because “literacy” implies that you have to be educated on how to use your emotions, whereas with EQ people are taught through education and training to recognize and manage their own emotions.

Job satisfaction comes down to one thing: fulfillment from what you do. If your job does not give you this feeling, then it is time to look for another position.

Your sense of fulfillment at work depends mostly on two things: 1) Your relationships with your colleagues and 2) Your perception of leadership.

As employees, we feel valued when our bosses treat us with respect and acknowledge us in the workplace. We also want to believe that our department leader will put forth an effort to help us succeed and make sure we know we can come to them for anything.

In both cases, they must understand who we are and actively communicate this to other people. They should listen to us and ask about things that matter to us.

It is important to note that while leadership is needed at every level, the top positions require different levels of intensity. As someone who has a strong leadership skill, you would expect those in higher positions to have greater responsibility than individuals under them.

Ways to improve emotional intelligence

Developing your empathy is an important part of emotional intelligence. Just like with any other skill, practicing empathetic skills will enhance your ability to relate to people and understand them.

Most experts agree that being able to identify and describe emotions is a helpful tool when interacting with others. This is what makes it possible to read nonverbal cues and know if someone is angry at you or not.

However, some say this is the most basic form of empathizing. Because we all have feelings, understanding how these feel for different individuals is more advanced forms of empathy.

This article will discuss several ways to develop your empathy so you can use it in the workplace. These include doing things that are emotionally challenging, acting on behalf of another person, imagining yourself in their position, looking at situations from their perspective, and taking breaks to relax.

Become a better listener

Being able to listen is one of the most important skills you can develop as an employee. There are always other people that will put forth efforts to talk about things – why not use those opportunities to learn?

By being a good listener, you’ll gain new insights into how others operate. You’ll also discover helpful information that could improve your job performance or even help you find another position within the company.

It's easy to think that what you want to say is more important than listening to what others have to offer, but that isn't always the case. By paying attention, you'll be giving someone else a chance to speak -- and they may actually need your assistance or guidance.

Become a student of human behavior while improving your own communication skills. You don’t need to agree with what anyone says, but knowing what makes them uncomfortable, why they feel the way they do and possible ways to change their state of mind can only benefit you.

Emotions exist for a reason, so try to understand them instead of dismissing them. Also, ask questions to get more details about something, rather than simply assuming it is true. Your colleagues will feel comfortable sharing things with you when you show an interest in learning about them.

Teach people to be authentic

Recent studies show that being able to read other people’s emotions is one of the most important skills for employees to possess.

It has been shown time and time again that successful leaders are good at reading others. They know when their colleagues are down, and how they can use this information to help them succeed.

They also understand when someone else doesn’t want to work together or needs extra motivation, and they're not shy about giving it to them.

These things are crucial to success in your job, and as a leader you must be able to do them if you want to keep your position. You need to be able to motivate your team, and you have to be able to trust them so that they will get the jobs done without too much hassle.

Be a good psychologist

A lot of people consider being smart or intelligent to be an easy way to succeed. This is not always the case however, as becoming psychologically savvy can take work.

Psychology has many different branches including psychology studies, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and psychotherapy. Each one focuses on various mental health issues and conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, etc.

In addition to studying these disorders, psychologists also study how personality traits influence mental and physical wellness. These are referred to as psychological traits and have mostly to do with what makes someone feel comfortable and confident in themselves.

People who have high levels of emotional intelligence are able to identify their emotions and understand why they're feeling a certain way. They are aware of their own feelings and those of others which helps them to relate and connect with other people.

Given that we spend a significant amount of time interacting with other individuals for our jobs, developing your emotional intelligence can help you achieve your career goals. You will want to look into whether there are any courses or trainings available at your workplace to improve your skills.

You could also ask around to see if anyone else feels like you’re lacking in this area so you don't come off as shy or unintelligent.

Use your anger properly

Sometimes, our emotions get the better of us. We can become too passionate about something or someone and this can sometimes lead to hurtful comments or actions.

When you feel like you’ve been wronged, distracted by other things, it is easy to lose your temper. It is important to understand that when we are angry, we are not thinking clearly.

We say things we do not mean and take things too seriously. This is why most people who lose their tempers never do anything rash; they always think before reacting.

Emotions such as fear, sadness, frustration and jealousy can all play a big part in what makes you angry. These negative feelings can be caused either by something external – something happening around you –or internal, something within you.

It is important to recognize these different emotions so that you don’t misinterpret them.

Once you realize how strong your emotions are, then you can learn how to use them effectively.

Be consistent

Consistency is one of the most important qualities to develop as an emotional leader. When you are consistently showing your emotions, people will know how you feel about things.

This includes not only using emotion during conversations but also consistency with how you respond to conversations and situations.

If someone makes you angry, try to work through it productively instead of letting that person walk away hurt or upset.

Similarly, if someone does something that made you uncomfortable, do not bottle up those feelings. Let them know they made you unhappy and let them know why.

By being aware of your emotions, you’ll be more conscious of what you say and do around others. You’ll also notice when their behavior has changed and it may give you clues as to whether they have been put off by some action.

It can help you determine if they need to change jobs or if you need to find another job so you don’t associate with them anymore.

Provide structure

Overworking yourself is never a good idea, especially when you are trying to achieve your career goals. You will burn out quickly if you invest too much time into developing your career.

Research has shown that emotional intelligence (or EQ as it’s often referred to) can have an impact on employee productivity and engagement. The more engaged employees are, the less likely they are to burn out and quit their job.

Having high levels of empathy, for example, can help workers understand what their colleagues are going through and motivate them to do their jobs better. Employees who show sympathy and understanding for their coworkers may even inspire others to put in extra effort or go beyond their normal duties.

On the other hand, individuals with low levels of EQ are probably not doing anything to promote workplace wellness. These people might be so focused on getting their own work done that they don’t pay attention to how their behaviors affect those around them.

If you're someone who likes to overwork yourself and feel like you need to keep proving yourself, then there's something important you should recognize about yourself.

You could be investing lots of energy in feelings of inadequacy or fear of failure, which are totally natural but also unnecessary. It's possible to balance professional success with personal well-being, and learning how to do this takes practice.

The best way to develop self-awareness and leadership skills is by looking at the examples set by successful leaders.