Emotional Intelligence For Dummies®

Chapter 17. Ten Ways to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence

In This Chapter

• Paying attention to yourself

• Paying attention to others

• Taking control of your stress

• Managing change

• Being happy

You can improve your emotional intelligence. The best way to improve your emotional skills is through practice in the real world. Through practice and getting feedback on your performance, preferably by an experienced coach, you can adjust your behavior and become more effective in recognizing and managing your own emotions as well as the emotions of others.

Everyone has aspects of their lives that they can improve. Jill knows that she can become a more effective parent, but with so much turmoil in her family, she barely knows where to begin. Clinton wants to be more effective at work, both in terms of his productivity and relationships with others. Claudia feels out of balance — she has a job that pays well, but she's bored with her life.

In this chapter, I look at ways that you can work on your emotional intelligence so that you can begin to make a difference in your situation. Although each of the skills can help you in some way, you may find some skills more important than others, depending on your current needs.

Become More Self-Aware

One of the core areas of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. In many ways, this area is the cornerstone of all the other areas. In order to be aware of others' emotions, for example, you need to be aware of your own emotions.

You can become more aware of your emotions ...