7 Tips for Improving Your Emotional Intelligence

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Many people struggle with emotional intelligence for a variety of reasons which can be due to both psychological and environmental influences. It might be that they lack self-awareness or have been taught to swallow their emotions. Some of it could have to do with cultural or familial differences. Perhaps it’s related to underdeveloped social skills such as the inability to communicate effectively or having difficulty reading social cues. In some cases, it might be impacted by emotional distortion, biases, or past experiences and trauma.

If you find yourself struggling in this regard, here are seven tips to help you improve:

1. Become more self-aware. You can do so by devoting a little bit of time each day towards reflection, mindfulness, or journaling. Engaging in any of these activities can help you take a deeper dive into your emotional responses.
2. Get better at self-regulation. Do you tend to react immediately? Slow down and take a few deep breaths before responding to stressful experiences. You can also attempt to reframe the situation in a more positive light. Additionally, look for ways to relax when you are experiencing moments of distress.
3. Work to become more empathetic. Try to improve your active listening without interrupting people when they are talking. Pay attention to both…