bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Business Insider

We all know how important intelligence is in life.
However, if you want to be successful in your career, just being a smart cookie will only get you so far.
Your emotional intelligence (also called EQ and EI) can also be an important factor in your success.
But how can you tell if you’re self-aware enough to recognise and respond to emotions (your own and those of the people around you)?
Well, here are five subtle signs that your emotional intelligence is strong, even if it doesn’t feel like it:
1. You say ‘sorry’
Yes, we all know the dangers of saying “sorry” too much. After a while, the word loses its meaning.
However, if you’re a person who can muster up a genuine apology when you’ve done wrong, that’s a sure sign of emotional intelligence, according to “Hiring for Attitude” author Mark Murray writing in Forbes.
2. You question yourself
Questioning yourself probably doesn’t sound like a great trait. Confidence is key, right? Well, there’s a difference between overwhelming self-doubt and self-reflection. As Justin Barro wrote for Inc., it’s important to hone your emotional intelligence by asking yourself whether or not certain things need to be said. These questions shouldn’t make you doubt yourself, they should simply boost your self-awareness.
3. You never sugarcoat
This one sounds a bit counterintuitive. Isn’t emotional intelligence all about making other people feel good? Well, no. Not really.
As Murray writes for Forbes, “Emotional intelligence requires recognising emotions in others, but this other awareness doesn’t mean shying away from speaking the truth or using tricks to try and soften the blow of tough feedback. People with emotional intelligence know how important it is that tough messages get heard.”
4. You’ve gone to therapy
According to Sarah Fader writing for Psych Central, attending sessions with a good therapist will allow you to become better in-tune with your emotions. This, in turn, will equip you to better recognise those emotions in others.
5. You’re not just a happy person
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about emotional intelligence. As Dr. John D. Mayer writes for Psychology Today, “...journalistic accounts of EI often have equated it to other personality traits. Emotional intelligence, however, is not agreeableness. It is not optimism. It is not happiness. It is not calmness. It is not motivation.”
It’s simply being able to manage your own and others’ emotions.
See Also:
A psychologist shares 10 tips for dealing with anxiety at work
13 signs your coworker is a psychopath
11 signs you're working with a narcissist
Click here to visit Business Insider


Bezos’ Washington Post scraps ad calling for Trump to ‘fire Elon Musk’ from print editions

From Thailand’s ‘Ghost Tower’ to Pyongyang’s ‘Hotel of Doom’: Asia’s abandoned skyscrapers

Brutal, ‘brave’ and unrelenting: the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine

Trump, Musk highlighted in Ben & Jerry’s suit against Unilever over social mission interference

Five signs you’re emotionally intelligent — even if it doesn’t feel like it

Are you emotionally intelligent? Photo: Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr

Lifestyle

Tech

Science & Research

Despite what you may think, questioning yourself once in a while and not always being happy are signs that you’re on top of your emotions


Wellness