Understanding the meaning of emotional intelligence and implementing its five components can bring you very far as a virtual assistant. In today’s blog, we discuss the definition of emotional intelligence as well as how to implement the five elements in your daily life as a virtual assistant:
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
It’s important to understand the definition of emotional intelligence (EI) before we can think about further developing our skills in this field. So, what is emotional intelligence? This is the ability to recognize and manage your own and others’ emotions.
When you have fully developed your emotional intelligence skills, you’ll be able to easily apply self-confidence and self-acceptance to better express your own emotions.
When dealing with the emotions of others, you’ll be able to respond positively as you’ll express feelings of empathy and concern towards them. Some key signs and examples of emotional intelligence include:
- Identifying what other people are feeling.
- The ability to forgive yourself for past mistakes.
- Understanding your strengths and weaknesses.
- Being open to change.
- Self-confidence.
- Feelings of empathy and concern for others.
- Having your emotions under control in difficult situations.
- Accepting and taking responsibility for your mistakes.
The Five Components of Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist who popularized emotional intelligence, listed five key elements:
Self-awareness means that you have the ability to understand your emotions and how your actions could affect your colleagues. This component also helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Self-regulation is a great element of emotional intelligence because it showcases confidence in working under pressure. It also allows you to communicate in a calm manner without verbally attacking your colleagues.
Motivation is a must-have working as a virtual assistant. This key element allows you to strive forward towards success with a “never give up” attitude. Furthermore, being motivated will inspire your teammates to match your way of thinking.
Empathy allows you to connect with your colleagues on an emotional level. What’s more, showing empathy towards your team members will assist in building strong, healthy, and trustworthy relationships with them.
Social Skills allow you to communicate effectively with your virtual colleagues. In addition to helping you build relationships with your peers, social skills will allow you to gather and send information without confusion.
As a virtual assistant, having these elements under your belt will assist you in becoming the best possible version of yourself.
How to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence
If you would like to master these skills and fully enjoy life as a virtual assistant with high emotional intelligence, we suggest you do the following:
- Practice being calm.
- Learn to have an excuse-free attitude. (Hold yourself accountable).
- Keep a journal to write down your thoughts.
- Think twice before saying something.
- Take the time to get to know yourself.
- Know your values.
- Learn how to pay attention to body language.
- Do not be scared to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
- Never stop improving your communication skills.
- Practice how to resolve conflict.
- Learn how to praise others.
For these tips to be effective, one should fully understand the definition of emotional intelligence and how your emotions and actions could affect those around you. You can find several videos, podcasts, and articles if you search “Emotional Intelligence” on Google. There are many useful tips that could assist you even further.
We Care About Our Virtual Assistants
We talked with Claudia, one of Job Duck’s Happiness team members, about how we implement emotional intelligence in the workplace. Claudia mentioned the following:
For us, emotional intelligence in the workplace is very important to keep our staffers motivated. So, to help them develop these skills, we have a Quarterly Staffer Recognition Program where we aim to keep motivating our staffers to keep being excellent.
Also, we have Weekly Decompression Sessions, which are 30-minute calls held to provide assistance to Staffers who feel stressed out because of work-related reasons and advice on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Emotional intelligence is something that one can understand once you fully get to know who you are. We hope this week’s blog assisted you in understanding (EI) better! Feel free to share this blog with your friends and family if you believe that they can benefit from it! Lastly, click HERE if you’re interested in building an amazing career with Job Duck!
Until next time,
The Job Duck Team
4 Comments
Very interesting! I think everybody should work on their Emotional Intelligence!
We totally agree with you, Andres. Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. Feel free to share it with your friends and family.
Warmest regards,
The Job Duck Team