Emotional Intelligence: the Key to a Successful Career

First coined in the 1960s and made popular in 1995 by Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (EI) is defined as:

The ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.

– Mental Health America

If you have worked in any organization, most likely you have come across that one boss that is always screaming at his or her direct reports. These toxic managers cause employees to resign and give their companies a bad reputation.

As they say, “People quit bad bosses, not employers.”

In a world where companies are struggling to retain employees and with movements such as Quiet Quitting and Lying Flat, emotionally intelligent people have become highly sought after.

Positive and supportive employees create a great working environment which gets people to stay productive.

Emotionally Intelligent People

Unlike technical skills which can easily get outdated or apply only to an office setting, emotional intelligence unlocks soft skills that are 1) transferrable from company to company and 2) timeless. Your EI can be utilized with family and friends.

If you are still confused as to what these skills could be, these are 3 examples of emotional intelligence:

1. Self-awareness – these individuals are able to recognize and understand their own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. This allows them to identify areas for improvement, seek out feedback, and continuously develop their skills and knowledge. This leads to improved job performance and long-term career success.
2. Empathy – you would d be thankful to have colleagues like these. After a difficult day in the office, they will invite you out for drinks or to unwind. They have the ability to sense something is wrong and to check up on their teammates. Empathetic workers can understand and share the feelings of others.
3. Conflict Resolution – these workers thrive in times of distress, not because they enjoy the chaos, but due to their ability to keep calm and consider the various sides of the issue. Their willingness to understand others’ perspectives, enable them to come up with solutions which benefit most involved.

To top it off, you need more soft skills the higher up you go. Meanwhile, technical skills take a lesser role. After all, you can be the best at your job but if no one understands you, then no one will appreciate the work that you do.

Why emotional intelligence makes you successful

Whether you are working in Web3, traditional companies, or as a solo entrepreneur, you cannot escape the fact that you will be dealing with people. Developing the skills and capabilities to understand other humans will set you up for success.

Here’s why you should learn about emotional intelligence:

1. Increase your income – perhaps an offshoot of the skills that you build with Emotional intelligence. A handful of studies show that emotionally intelligent workers earn USD29,000 more than their less capable counterparts.
2. Set yourself apart from competition – in previous articles, we tackled how participating in newer industries such as Web3, reduces the competition. To further standout from other applicants, arm yourself with soft skills and leadership capabilities which others may have been ignoring.
3. Build important relationships – network > networth. Your connections and network will make your career significantly easier whether through mentorship, an important introduction, job opportunities, or just great friendships.

As a bonus, emotional intelligence also focuses on what makes us most human. Future proof your career and thrive in a world of artificial intelligence.

How to learn emotional intelligence:

Winning days are determined in the first and last hours you're awake

Morning routine:
• Chug water
• 10 minute journal
• 10 minute meditation
• 10 minute walk

Night routine:
• Ginger turmeric tea (gut health)
• 10 minute journal
• 30 minutes reading

Anything I miss?

— NFT God (@NFT_GOD) October 8, 2022

Mastering emotional intelligence will benefit your life and those around you. We have listed simple steps below to get you started:

1. Journalling – maintaining a written journal whether daily or weekly will train you to reflect on yourself and others. Write about specific work events, how you felt, how your colleagues felt, and the reasons as to why things turned out that way. These learnings will propel you forward.
2. Being Mindful – also known as being present in the moment, you need to open your eyes and ears to what is happening around you. For example: you are talking to a colleague, you notice his or her body language, tone of voice, and facial expression to get the whole message. This makes you a better communicator.
3.  Accountability – ex-Navy seal turned author Jocko Willink best described this concept through his book Extreme Ownership. If you make a wrong move, own up to it. If your teammate fell short, ask yourself how you could have assisted him or her better. If your son or daughter makes a mistake at school, reflect on what values you have taught them. By taking accountability, you put issues back into your control and can ultimately change future outcomes.

To conclude, emotional intelligence sets you up for career success. By developing your EI, you can improve communication skills, enhance leadership abilities, increase self-awareness, and build stronger relationships with others.

These skills can help you excel in your current role, open up new career opportunities, and ultimately achieve your professional goals.

If you liked this article, then you will love our other career guides here.