Recent research suggests that emotional intelligence (or EQ, for short) is an important factor in achieving success and happiness in life. While there are many theories about what makes up individual levels of EQ, one of the most accepted frameworks looks at it as having skills in identifying and understanding emotions in yourself and others, along with using these insights to regulate your own emotions and manage relationships.

With more than half of all adults living with chronic health conditions, mental health has become increasingly significant in shaping overall wellness and quality of life. Many experts believe that being able to understand and control your feelings plays a major role in helping you feel better physically and emotionally.

Given this link, we should probably be paying closer attention to how well people handle their emotions. Unfortunately, studies show that even though most people think they have “good” amounts of emotional intelligence, very few actually do.

This can make it hard to achieve personal growth and improve your relationship with other people when they are constantly feeling hurt or frustrated by you. It also may prevent you from seeking help when you need it because you don't want to seem "weak."

Fortunately, you can develop your emotional intelligence — just like anyone else does. With the right strategies, you can increase your empathy, learn how to recognize your own emotions, reduce stress, and strengthen your social connections.

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Look at their non-verbal communication

Non-verbal behaviors such as body language, tone of voice, and expression can tell us a lot about someone’s emotional state.

We all have certain habits that we use when we are angry or excited. For example, when you are really mad, your face gets red and you may show strong emotions. When people look like they are crying, it is usually because they are.

When someone is happy, they will probably smile more than they normally would. They might also laugh more frequently and loudly.

The way that someone uses their hands while talking also gives away some information. If their hand goes up, for instance, it means they are agreeing with what the other person said. A lower hand position means they want to add something new to be discussed.

Reading between the lines and knowing how to interpret non-verbal cues are important parts of emotional intelligence.

Look at their social skills

One of the most important things that people with high emotional intelligence do is use their social skills effectively. They know how to motivate others, they are aware of other peoples’s emotions, and they use these insights to help them achieve their goal.

They also recognize when someone else needs some time or space and give it to them. This helps keep relationships strong.

People with higher EQ understand that relationships take work and don’t expect perfection but instead strive for growth. In fact, they believe that if you put in the effort now then your relationship will be much stronger later.

You can tell whether someone has high emotional intelligence by looking at their social skills. If she could play chess at a professional level then she probably knows how to apply herself in a setting where concepts such as motivation, leadership, and teamwork are needed.

Ask them about their emotional intelligence

A lot of people talk about emotional literacy and empathy, but few actually define those terms. So, how do you judge if someone has high levels of emotional intelligence?

The first way is to ask them about it. If you are reading this article, then you probably have an idea what they mean by that. But, how did you determine that?

You asked your friend why she thinks her house will burn down next week!

By asking them about it, you made sure your assumptions were correct. You used their own words to confirm that they understand what emotions are and how to use them.

This is one way to evaluate emotional intelligence. People who can describe their emotional skills in detail are likely not only to have them, but to use them as well.

Another way to assess EI is to look at past experiences. Does anyone else around you seem to be very emotionally intelligent or not?

A good indicator here would be friends, family, and colleagues. They could tell you something about the person including whether you’ve seen signs of higher than average EQ before.

Look at their work ethic

Even if you don’t see much of this person outside of work, it is important to look into how they behave there. Does he or she seem more passionate about the job than anyone else? Are they always the first in the room, ready to start working?

This will make them appear more intelligent as people who are motivated by the job show higher emotional intelligence. They are also able to connect with others which helps them gain trust and respect.

It is very difficult to be creative when you aren’t aware of what your colleagues feel and think so having someone like this in your team can help you achieve your goals. You would have to work harder though, as these individuals may ask for more responsibility but reward themselves with praise frequently.

Interpersonal skills are something that everyone should strive to master and emotional intelligence is one of the most crucial.

Is there a pattern to their behavior?

A good gauge is whether someone is able to recognize and acknowledge their own emotions. If they can’t, it may be because they don’t know what those emotions are or they're not aware of them.

By the same token, you should be able to identify your own feelings. It's very easy to assume that people understand you when they really don't.

For example, let's say you feel angry with somebody for something trivial. You might think that person gets how you feel, but in reality they probably don't. They could easily be thinking about something else right now!

If this sounds like you, then you should make an effort to learn more about emotional intelligence. You can do so by reading books or talking to other people about it.

Do they tend to be optimistic or pessimistic?

In addition to having emotions, people who have high emotional intelligence are typically upbeat and look for the good in things. They may also show signs of optimism, which is feeling confident about something that will happen later. On the other hand, they can be skeptical and doubt everything, including yourself.

Optimism is a quality that most people have, but it’s not always the strongest at all times. It sometimes goes out of style, especially when life gets tough. People with higher EQ seem to keep their spirits up more often than not.

That doesn’t make them any better than anyone else, though! Being emotionally intelligent isn’t an excuse to be very happy all the time, because being joyful for no reason is possible mental health problem.

Ask for feedback

A lot of people talk about emotional intelligence, but few actually define it or ask for examples. What you will not find are many definitions that do not include empathy as a part of emotional quotient. While some believe that being able is to be learned, most agree that it is either inborn or developed through socialization and experiences.

So how do we determine if someone has lots of empathy or not? By asking others if they feel that person understands them and their emotions. This can be done casually via text messages, emails, or even in casual conversations.

Alternatively, you can also just watch what happens when you try to get someone’s attention! (no need to elaborate on this one).

Watch how they behave when they are feeling frustrated

When you are trying to determine someone's emotional intelligence, look at how they react to things that make them feel stressed out or overwhelmed.

It is very common for people with high EQ to get upset about something but then quickly move onto other things in their life. They may even laugh it off or be completely dismissive of what made them before.

This ability to shift your focus and energy away from something that has hurt you is an important quality to have. It helps you keep calm and controlled in stressful situations.

If you notice that there are no signs of this switch-off process, try to understand why that is. Is it because they do not have enough self-control themselves? Or maybe they cannot separate their emotions from the thing that makes them unhappy.

Either way, it is worth looking into whether these traits can be improved upon.