Over the past few years, emotional intelligence (or EQ for short) has become one of the most popular workplace qualities to promote. With its growing popularity, companies are offering training in it as a way to improve employee engagement, productivity, and overall success.

While there is some evidence that higher levels of EQ are linked with greater job satisfaction, what people do with this information depends on how they perceive their own EQ.

If you believe your level of EQ is lower than it could be, then seeking out ways to increase yours may not necessarily make you feel happier at work. On the other hand, if you have high self-awareness and control of your emotions, investing in them can boost your happiness at work.

This article will discuss why being aware of your own emotions and understanding the effect they have on others is important, and also look at how emotionally intelligent employees experience more job satisfaction.

Association between emotional intelligence and job satisfaction

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Over the past few decades, there have been many studies that link emotional quotient (EQ) or emotional literacy with other qualities such as organizational effectiveness and productivity, career success and happiness.

Most of these studies focus on two main traits: EQ and social skills.

People who have higher levels of emotional intelligence are said to be more aware of their emotions and how others’ emotions influence them. They are also said to use this information to identify what is going on in relationships and situations, and thus manage relationships better.

Social skills refer to our ability to read non-verbal cues effectively and apply appropriate behavior according to situation. For example, someone may seem calm and relaxed at first, but if you know they are trying to avoid crying, then it can show through how tense they appear.

The impact of your emotional intelligence

Over the past few years, there has been a growing emphasis in the workplace on what is referred to as “emotional literacy” or “EI.” Some experts even go so far as to describe it as a new superpower that everyone should have.

Emotional intelligence (or EI for short) is described as how well you are able to understand and manage your emotions. It focuses on things like whether you use rational thinking or instead rely more on feelings, how you relate to others, and if you are aware of your own emotions.

Some research suggests that having higher levels of EI can have major benefits. For example, one study found that people with high EI were less likely to suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Another study suggested that being highly emotionally intelligent was linked to greater job satisfaction. Why? Because people who have higher EI tend to feel happier at work because they recognize the importance of relationships in the office and know how to put others before themselves.

However, while some studies suggest that higher EI is linked to feeling happier at work, other studies find no link whatsoever.

So what do we really know about the connection between emotional intelligence and happiness at work?

Fortunately, recent scientific findings make it possible to conclude that developing your emotional skills could help boost your overall sense of wellbeing at work.

Ways to improve your emotional intelligence

Developing your empathy is one of the most important things you can do to increase your emotional intelligence.

Empathy comes from understanding what situations, people, or experiences are like for someone else. It takes into account how other people feel in various situations and this gives you an insight into their behavior.

You’d have to be careful not to overdo it though, as too much empathy could easily become sympathy — which is feeling sorry for someone, instead of helping them overcome their problems.

Research has shown that individuals who were raised with less empathy than average tend to make more money because they choose job roles that don’t require strong interpersonal skills.

However, workers with low levels of empathy may find themselves struggling to cope when they’re faced with difficult challenges at work. They may also suffer from stress and burn-out.

On the other hand, employees who were socialized with high levels of empathy often report higher satisfaction at work and better relationships with colleagues and superiors.

So, whether you're just looking to boost your own mood or you want to succeed at your current position, investing time in developing your empathic qualities is worth considering.

Take care of your mental health

In addition to learning how to manage your emotions, an important part of being emotionally intelligent is taking good care of your emotional wellness. This includes things like understanding what types of stress you are using in the workplace and finding ways to reduce or eliminate them, as well as seeking help if needed.

Certain behaviors such as alcohol use or smoking can actually make people feel more stressed out and nervous. These habits should be given up because they only contribute to negative feelings and anxiety.

When professionals from different areas work together, it can sometimes create a sense of tension. That’s totally normal! Sometimes, though, there can be conflicts of interest that threaten to break down working relationships.

In these cases, emotional intelligence comes into play. If you can recognize and control your own strong emotions, then you will be able to understand others’ emotions and avoid getting too heated. You may also be able to talk yourself through difficult situations instead of acting immediately on instinct.

Practice meditation

In fact, research suggests that being emotionally intelligent is directly linked to job satisfaction. The reasoning goes like this: As your emotional intelligence increases, you feel happier and more satisfied with your career.

Emotions play an integral part in how we perceive our lives and what we pursue. For example, someone who is very empathetic may be less motivated because they feel bad for people who make unfortunate life decisions.

Similarly, someone with high emotional literacy can recognize and understand their emotions, which helps them identify why they are feeling certain ways. This, of course, leads to more effective coping strategies and behaviors.

Overall, having higher levels of emotional intelligence allows you to control your own emotions and reactions to situations, thus enhancing your sense of happiness and contentment.

Get a good job

Being able to identify your emotions is one of the most important skills you can develop because it impacts how well you interact with people and affects their perception of you.

Many employers look for emotional intelligence (EI) in candidates. They want to make sure that workers are friendly, dependable and show interest in others. This is why having strong EI comes in handy as a workplace professional.

You will find that some professionals have a tendency to be very emotional sometimes, which may not always be helpful when they need to keep things calm or work under stressful conditions.

If you’re looking for employment soon, here are five ways being smart about emotion helps boost your job satisfaction.

Communicate better

A lot of people think that being emotionally intelligent means you have to be very compassionate all the time. That is not quite right, emotional intelligence comes in two forms: empathy and social skills.

Empathy refers to your ability to recognize and understand what emotions other people are feeling. It also includes understanding how your own feelings influence those around you.

Social skills refer to your ability to interact with others effectively. For example, when talking about work, you should include some topic matter that both you and your listener are interested in.

When talking to someone, make an effort to relate to them, ask questions that show you care, and listen to their answers. If they talk about something that interests you, then compliment or agree with it.

By doing these things, you will develop your emotional intelligence by teaching yourself how to read other’s emotions and apply this knowledge to your relationships.

Be a good listener

Being a good listener is one of the most important skills to have in this era of technology-driven communication. A good listener does not interrupt or take over conversations, instead they let other people talk while also adding your two cents here and there.

This article will discuss how being a good listener can improve your job satisfaction. Starting off with an understanding of what emotional intelligence (EI) actually is will help you relate more clearly to what others are saying.

First defined by psychologist Daniel Goleman in his book "Emotional Intelligence," EI refers to someone’s ability to recognize their own emotions as well as those of others. This includes knowing why you feel a certain way and learning how to manage your feelings.

Many think that having high EQ means you are better at recognizing and controlling your emotions, which is partly true, but it goes beyond that. Having higher levels of EQ also means you understand the effects that your actions have on others.

You know when something seems wrong, and you try to figure out why. You are aware of negative energy and you work to eliminate these from your workplace. All of these things contribute to a feeling of overall job satisfaction.

There are many ways to develop your listening skill set, such as practicing silence and listening without distractions, asking questions, and keeping notes.

Overall, being able to listen effectively helps you connect with others and encourages teamwork.