Do you have a plan to fuel your performance both in the workplace and in your personal life? Do you have a goal of accelerating success in all areas of your life?

If so, I want to share simple, yet powerful ideas with you in this article.

I learned from many of my emotional intelligence pieces of training that everything starts with you. No matter what professional field you are in, whether you manage a team of 100 or 10 people, whether you have a large family or a small one, whether you are a man or woman, whether you are young or old, realizing how effective you are at controlling your own emotions is the greatest thing you could do for yourself.

Even though we are not taught on this thing called emotional intelligence, we can learn it.

Some of the following qualities of emotionally intelligent people have been revealed to me by my amazing trainees and colleagues. I inspire and motivate by applying the qualities myself.

1. Empathy. Do you often fail in understanding others? Do you struggle with anger because you do not understand how the other person is feeling whatever he is feeling? If so, it is time for you to start placing yourself in another’s position. Try to cultivate the habit of feeling what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference.
2. Self-Awareness. The most important and essential knowledge you can have and must have in this world is knowing yourself. Nothing is more important than that. If you don’t understand yourself, if you do not know how to manage yourself, then you are forcing yourself to live life in a reactive manner. Others and situations will always control you. You are the pilot in your own life. Stop giving your wheel to an external source. Start developing self-awareness. Check out my article on: ‘Self-Awareness is the secret sauce to controlling your anger’.
3. Curiosity. It was Albert Einstein who said: “I have no special talents. I am passionately curious.” If you’re curious, you will always learn from others. If you’re curious, you’ll strive to be the very best that you can be. If you’re curious, you’ll always strive to learn from your mistakes. This learning mindset positively affects other areas of your life like your personal life, work life, and social life.
4. Belief. Does your inner voice lack belief in you? Do you not believe in yourself? Can you really work on something, on anything if your enemy is on the inside? If you lack the belief that you can achieve anything that you set your mind to, you cannot really achieve anything. Of course, belief alone will not help you. You must take action. But when you combine your belief in yourself with consistent hard work and an unfailingly positive attitude, you would have a personality that envies the gods.
5. Passion. It is hard to explain this quality. You will definitely know and feel it when you have it. The one thing that makes you excel at your work is the passion you have for your job. If you’re not passionate about your job, no one would observe your skills because you would not do the work with the energy that comes from within. This passion is the engine that ignites anything you do. It is infectious and contagious.
6. Optimistic. You have a choice to live life with a positive attitude or a negative attitude. Your attitude is under your control and influence. That does not mean that you will not have struggles and fail many times. But with a positive mindset, you increase your opportunities, improve your relationships and you think constructively whenever you are faced with challenges. Most importantly, you will live life with a light weight on your shoulder because you are no longer carrying the feelings of bitterness, anger, resentment, and a drive for revenge. Shawn Achor said it best: “When we are happy- when our mindset and mood are positive – we are smarter, more motivated, and thus more successful. Happiness is the center, and success revolves around it.
7. Adaptability. People who are emotionally intelligent are the most adaptable people on earth. When they are faced with a problem they have not been expecting, they accept the situation quickly and they keep moving forward in spite of what has happened. Staying open-minded and willing to adapt is a skill you can develop.
8. The Desire to help others. Steve Maraboli said: “A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” If you’re a person who always asks “What is in it for me?” you will just be an ordinary person who is just a number in the masses. Looking for ways to help others is not just for others. It is for you as well. It will make you happy. You will have stronger social connections. You will be able to adapt better to stress and adversity by building resilience. It is good for you. It can help you find meaning in your life.

To Your Inspirations,

Banchi