Over the past few years, emotional intelligence (EI) has become one of the most popular leadership theories. Many claim that it can have major impacts on employee engagement, teamwork, communication, and more.

Some even say that having strong EI is a fundamental part of being successful in life. While there are several different definitions for what makes someone feel confident in their own skills, EQ seems to be the common factor.

So how do you develop your emotional intelligence?

Most agree that developing your empathy and understanding emotions is an important piece to achieving this. Some believe that practicing mindfulness or other forms of meditation helps with this.

Another theory says that learning about and applying social psychology principles help boost your EQ. These include things like encouraging diversity, acknowledging others, etc.

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While all of these strategies may sound interesting, no matter which type you choose, they’re only a start. You must also use what you learn effectively.

That means keeping track of what worked and what didn’t, and changing or adding something when needed. It also means using your EQ for good, not bad.

This article will go into more detail about some ways you can promote emotional intelligence at work. But first, let us look at the difference between emotional quotient and emotional literacy.

Emotional Quotient vs. Emotional Literacy

Many people refer to emotional intelligence as “self-control over ones feelings.

Provide clarity

As discussed earlier, emotional intelligence (or EQ as it is commonly referred to) comes down to one thing: how well you understand yourself and other people. This includes your own emotions, as well as their effects on others and what types of behaviors will influence these effects.

So how can we teach this skill if most of our time is spent in the workplace trying to control or eliminate your emotions? By being more aware of them!

By acknowledging and naming your feelings, you are creating space for you to work on understanding why you feel the way you do and what you can do to improve that feeling. This also gives you the chance to take action and fix the problem before it gets worse.

It’s worth noting here that while it may be easier said than done, professionals who have high levels of emotional intelligence are not always the ones who experience raised levels of emotion.

That doesn’t make them any less intelligent, but it does mean they manage those emotions better. So when you have a flash of anger, don’t assume that everyone around you feels the same way, because probably they don’t.

Make it fun

Companies that thrive use different strategies, but they all have one thing in common: They are both pleasant and productive experiences for those that participate in them.

Thriving groups of people organize activities and events that everyone enjoys being a part of. They create environments where individuals feel comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas because such openness is accepted.

By having these types of conversations, people learn more about each other and themselves. This emotional intelligence (EI) happens naturally when you are talking about things that matter to you, like what careers you want to pursue or why your loved ones mean the most to you.

For example, research shows that employees with higher EI tend to speak up in meetings and give their opinion more frequently than others.

This makes sense since they understand how emotions work and know that speaking up can help motivate others and bring closer relationships.

So, how can we promote emotional intelligence at our workplace? By having fun conversations and promoting open dialogue.

Be consistent

Consistency is one of the biggest influencers in how well you promote emotional intelligence. If you never show any emotions, people will not know what to do with you.

If you are always angry, people will avoid getting into an argument with you because they don’t want to make you even more irate. If you are never happy, people will assume that something must be wrong at work or that you have lost the ability to enjoy life.

It is important to keep your appearances in line with your internal feelings so that others can tell if you are showing signs of emotion. This also gives them a chance to respond appropriately when you do display ones.

At the same time, remember that there are just as many employees who may not agree with your decisions, and thus won’t like you, but that doesn’t mean you should let yourself become emotionally depressed either.

You need to find a middle ground that suits you both.

Be present

Being present is one of the most important things you can do as an employee or employer. This is not limited to being at work, but also including being socially conscious and aware. For example, if someone else needs your help, don’t automatically say no – instead, offer your assistance and see what happens!

By showing up for others, you show them that they are valuable. You demonstrate that you care about their well-being and success, which is always a powerful way to influence people.

As mentioned earlier, emotional intelligence (or EQ) is a valued skill. By investing time into it, you’ll find that more people will come to you with questions and issues. Others will look to you for guidance and tips, as you’ve mastered this quality.

If you want to promote emotional intelligence in the workplace, start by making efforts to be social and engaging. When possible, try to arrive early so you have enough time to get settled and organize yourself.

Be adaptable

A recent survey found that more than half of all workers feel they do not have enough time to devote to their career due to workloads, stressors, and lack of progress at work. In fact, over one-third said they would like to resign but are afraid if they did, someone else would take their job.

This doesn’t need to be the case for much longer! If you truly want to see changes occur at your workplace, you must be willing to make them happen here and now. You can’t wait for something to come up so you can promote emotional intelligence (or anyone else for that matter).

If you're looking to improve morale, find ways to help others succeed – from getting involved in projects and assignments to offering encouraging comments and praise.

When there is a change or upgrade at work, let people know about it as soon as possible. This way, everyone has time to prepare and get ready. Also, keep track of who knows what about the new position so no one gets left out.

Share your experiences

As mentioned earlier, one of the most important things that can be done to promote emotional intelligence is sharing personal stories. People are often more influenced by what they think others do than what actually happens in life.

If you’re able to identify something or someone who made an impact on you, share that with them. Talk about why their behavior was significant and how it has helped you in your career or at home.

This could be telling people about a leader you learned from, a manager you had to have due to her work ethic, or someone who went beyond the call of duty for you.

By educating yourself on other leaders’ behaviors, you’ll learn some valuable lessons too. You may also find new ways to apply those lessons in your own life and career.

Ask for feedback

Asking for feedback is one of the best ways to promote emotional intelligence in the workplace. This can be done through asking questions, seeking advice, or giving opinions.
Asking questions is an excellent way to gain some insights into emotional intelligence. If you are not sure what things make your colleagues laugh, ask them!

Ask about their day, how they are feeling, if there’s anything bothering them- it could help you figure out why they seem distant sometimes. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, asking about these things will help you understand your coworkers better.

Interpersonal skills like empathy and understanding other people’s emotions are enhanced by asking questions. So, don’t hesitate to do so!

Seeking advice is also a great way to boost EI. Perhaps someone else in the department has solved a similar problem and could offer some tips. Or maybe you’ll learn something new yourself!

Giving opinions is another good way to test your teammates’ EQ. Make sure to only give yours when asked though, never assume others would want that.

Seek out feedback

A great way to develop your emotional intelligence is by seeking out opportunities to get feedback from others.

This can be done through asking questions, giving interviews, attending meetings, etc. – anything that allows you to hear what people think about you or your actions.

By gathering this information, you will learn how other people perceive you, as well as if they feel you are successful around here and why.

You’ll also find out if there were any issues with the job you do, and whether these issues have changed for the better or worse since you took over.

If possible, see what other employees like yourself at your company have to say about you so that you can pick up some tips too.