The benefits of having a high EQ

Though high emotional intelligence is not always the answer in certain realms, having a high EQ score is a prerequisite to personal success and expert leadership.

People with high EQ have mastered their emotions and the range of emotions that they have. Many mistake emotions in a limited capacity to sad, mad, glad or perhaps happy. Emotions are far more complex and vast. Those with high EQ have mastered their emotions and use a depth of vocabulary to convey their feelings. They go beyond having a “bad” day to knowing if they are anxious or frustrated. They know if they have impulse control. They can distinguish between being happy or being optimistic.

Below is a list of emotions as measured by the Bar-On EQi. Identify which ones are your strengths and which you need to improve on.

• Independence– Be self-directed and self-controlled in your thinking and actions and be free from emotional dependency.
• Be self-directed and self-controlled in your thinking and actions and be free from emotional dependency.
• Self-Actualisation– Realise your true potential.
• Realise your true potential.
• Impulse control– Keep disruptive emotions and impulses in check, resist anger and delay the drive or temptation to act inappropriately.
• Flexibility– Adapt your emotions, thought and behaviour to changing situations and conditions.
• Adapt your emotions, thought and behaviour to changing situations and conditions.
• Reality testing– Assess the difference between what you experience and what objectively exists.
• Assess the difference between what you experience and what objectively exists.
• Optimism and resilience– Be able to look at the brighter side of life and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity.
• Be able to look at the brighter side of life and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity.
• Social Responsibility– Demonstrate yourself as a cooperative and contributing responsible member of your group. Maintain standards of honesty and integrity.
• Demonstrate yourself as a cooperative and contributing responsible member of your group. Maintain standards of honesty and integrity
• Empathy– Be aware of, understand and take on active interest in the feelings of others.
• Be aware of, understand and take on active interest in the feelings of others.
• Stress Tolerance– Withstand adverse events and stressful situations without “falling apart” by actively and positively coping with stress.
• Withstand adverse events and stressful situations without “falling apart” by actively and positively coping with stress.
• Problem Solving– Identify and define problems as well as generate and implement effective solutions.
• Identify and define problems as well as generate and implement effective solutions.
• Emotional– Recognise your feeling and their effects.
• Recognise your feeling and their effects.
• Assertiveness– Express feelings, beliefs and thoughts and defend your rights in a non-destructive manner.
• Express feelings, beliefs and thoughts and defend your rights in a non-destructive manner.