The SMART approach to EQ

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your thinking, emotions and behaviours, as well as understand and influence the emotions and behaviours of others, in ways that promote outstanding performance.

Article Date : 13/12/2004

Attribute:

Definition:

Characterised by:

The ability to truly understand one’s thinking, feelings and the impact these have on every behaviour and decision we make.

• Catching emotions in the moment.
• Ability to recognise and name the emotion.
• Recognising that emotions impact on decisions, choices and behaviour.

The ability to catch unhelpful emotions and master these emotions to control impulses and delay gratification.

• Managing impulses and negative emotions.
• Staying focussed on goal-directed, core activities.
• Staying calm, channelling emotions in a constructive way.

The ability to think in ways that promote resilience and the capacity to bounce back from adversity and stay focussed on goals.

• Having a mindset that promotes resilient thinking.
• Seeing obstacles as temporary and staying “in the game”.
• Able to anti-“catastrophise” and corral a problem, isolating its impact on other areas.

The ability to display empathy and tune into the emotions of others.

• Seeking first to understand before being understood.
• Recognising others' situation by using questions and “really listening” to the message.
• Understanding the underlying emotions of the message.

The ability to work with others in a constructive way to engage them in a way that motivates them to want to work with you and assisting them to stay focussed and deliver results.

• Demonstrating positive expectations of others.
• Supporting and collaborating with others.
• Giving people recognition or credit for a job well done.