With emotional intelligence (EI) being so important today in the workplace, there is much written about the traits and qualities that make one high in EI. However, how do you know if you, or someone else, is high or low in EI?
Having low emotional intelligence, or EQ is an issue that can have a significant influence on your social relationships. Some experts even believe that emotional intelligence has more of an impact on your chances of overall success in your work and life when compared to one’s IQ.
Your emotional intelligence can play a significant role in how you interact with others on your team; with low emotional intelligence, you might find social situations difficult and full of tension. This may result in being known as a difficult person, who others may avoid, and not be considered for career opportunities.
Here are some of the top signs that might suggest you – or others – have low emotional intelligence:
Getting in a Lot of Arguments
You probably know someone who is incredibly combative with others, or you might be the one who tends to get into arguments with others. Family, friends, colleagues, and even random strangers might find themselves embroiled continuously in disputes with these argumentative people.
Since people with low emotional intelligence tend to struggle with understanding other’s emotions, they find themselves arguing without considering the feelings of others.
Not Understanding How Others Feel
People who have low emotional intelligence are often oblivious to the feelings of others, or lack of empathy. They simply don’t get that someone might be angry or irritated with them. Not only that, but they tend to feel annoyed that others expect them to know how they are feeling.
Empathy is one of the most needed skills, especially for those in leadership roles, which means you have the ability to see situations from another’s point of view; this allows less animosity but more of a willingness to help and be open to that person.
Believing Others Are Overly Sensitive
People who have low emotional intelligence might tell jokes at inappropriate times and become offended when someone calls them out. When others react to these out-of-line jokes, those with low emotional intelligence might feel that others are being too sensitive.
People with low EQ find it challenging to understand the emotions of others, which makes it difficult for them to interpret the emotional tone after tragic events. They use the statement of ‘I was only joking’ which, actually, has some truth behind it.
Refusing to Consider Other Points of View
Individuals with low EQ feel that they are right and will defend their position while refusing to listen to what others have to say. This is particularly true when others are critical of how the person doesn’t understand what others are feeling. Low EQ individuals are often pessimistic and overly critical of the feelings of others. They tend to be right, even when they know or are presented with facts that they are wrong.
Blame Others for Your Mistakes
Individuals who have low emotional intelligence have very little insight into how their own emotions might lead to issues. When things start to go wrong in their lives, their first instinct is to blame others for their problems. They might suggest that they didn’t have a choice for what they did and that others simply don’t understand their situation. They become a victim of their own circumstances, never taking responsibility for their actions.
Low emotional intelligence can wreak havoc in not only your work- life but the lives of others. If any of the above categories sound familiar to you, it might be time for you to work on improving your emotional intelligence. It will lead to having less stress and the ability to be calmer in your day.
If you want to raise your emotional intelligence to be a more effective leader, or for team members, reach out today to get started.