13 Signs of High Emotional Intelligence

In 1995, psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman published a book introducing most of the world to the concept of emotional intelligence (EQ). The idea was that if you had an ability to understand and manage your emotions, you would greatly increase your chances of success. This quickly took off, and it went on to greatly influence the way people think about emotions and human behaviour.

But what does emotional intelligence look like, when manifested in everyday life?

For many years I've questioned and explored this question … In doing so, I've fixed upon a number of actions that illustrate how emotional intelligence can appear in the real world.

1. You think about feelings - Emotional intelligence begins with what is called self- and social awareness, the ability to recognise emotions (and their impact) in both yourself and others.

That awareness begins with reflection. You ask questions like: What are my emotional strengths? What are my weaknesses? How does my current mood affect my thoughts and decision making? What's going on under the surface/background that influences what others say or do?

Pondering questions like these can give you valuable insights that can be used to improve your understanding.

2. You pause - The act of pausing is as simple as taking a moment to stop and think before you speak or act. (Easy in theory, so difficult in practice!) This can help save you from embarrassing moments or from making commitments too quickly.

In other words, pausing helps you refrain from making a permanent decision based on a ‘temporary’ emotion.

3. You strive to control your thoughts - You don't have much control over the emotions you experience in any given moment. But you can control your reaction to those emotions, by focusing on your thoughts. By striving to control your thoughts, you resist becoming a slave to your emotions, allowing yourself to live in a way that's in balance with your goals and values.

4. You benefit from criticism - Nobody enjoys negative feedback. But you know that criticism is a chance to learn, even if it's not delivered in the best way. And even when it's unfounded, it gives you an insight into how others think and communicate. When you receive negative feedback, you keep your emotions in check and ask yourself: How can this make me better?

5. You show authenticity - Authenticity doesn't mean sharing everything about yourself, to everyone, all of the time. It does mean saying what you mean, meaning what you say, and sticking to your values and principles above all else. You know not everyone will appreciate your sharing your thoughts and feelings. But the ones who matter will.

6. You demonstrate empathy - The ability to show empathy, which includes understanding others' thoughts and feelings, helps you connect with others. Instead of judging or labeling others, you work hard to see things through their eyes. Empathy doesn't necessarily mean agreeing with another person's point of view. Rather, it's about striving to understand--which allows you to build deeper, more connected relationships.