It’s no secret that emotional intelligence allows you to be a better manager and leader. But emotional intelligence is like any other skill; many of us are born with the basics, but we have to work to develop those skills to their full potential.
Here are a few things you can practice daily to develop your emotional intelligence:
1. LEARN HOW TO ACTIVELY LISTEN
When you’re engaging in a conversation with someone, should it be an employee, a client, a colleague, or a friend — you should be listening for clarity, rather than just waiting for your turn to speak. Emotionally intelligent people ensure they understand fully what their conversation partner is saying between the lines. They also pay attention to the nonverbal cues the person they are speaking with may be giving, such as body language, facial expressions, and eye contact.
2. DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS
Emotionally intelligent entrepreneurs are highly self-aware and intuitive. They put a lot of time and effort into understanding themselves as much as they try to understand others. Through this self-awareness, they are mindful of their own emotions and how they may be projecting those on others. This attentiveness can help to strengthen their relationships — both professional and personal ones.
3. ASK FOR FEEDBACK
Entrepreneurs that have high EQ not only ask for feedback consistently, but they’re able to take the criticism well — which is really important skill. Try not to get offended or defensive about the feedback you might get from others, because the critique is most likely coming from a kind place — and the person giving you this feedback is probably just trying to help you grow. Instead, thank them for their feedback, and focus on how you can constructively resolve the issue or limitation.
4. LEARN TO EMPATHIZE
Empathy is the biggest competitive advantage that an entrepreneur can have. Empathy is a trait that shows immense emotional strength, not weakness. This allows you to relate to others and opens up the door for a deeper understanding of everyone’s situations. This is helpful in the office with your colleagues, as well as during sales meetings, investor pitches, networking events, and other important business conversations.
5. UTILIZE SOCIAL SKILLS APPROPRIATELY
While emotionally intelligent people naturally come off as approachable, making a conscious decision to look approachable and give off a positive presence is a great way to slowly become that way as you’re working on developing your EQ. It sounds silly — but often a simple smile can give people that signal.
Coming off as approachable can do wonders for you as a leader, as your team will feel more comfortable speaking with you about different matters. As for your entrepreneurial side, approachability increases your likeability — which is something you can never have enough of when you’re constantly selling something.
To conclude, emotional intelligence is a very subtle trait, but it makes all the difference between a good leader and a great leader. Focusing on these five tasks can help you to level up yourself and your business in 2023.