UNIT-7

Work plays a significant part in all our lives. Our earnings ensure that the lights stay on, there’s food on the table and the rainy-day pot
is full.
It is no easy task to achieve work-life balance in today’s unpredictable and fast-paced business world. As we grow increasingly more
connected through technology and social media, it is becoming more and more difficult to separate work from our personal lives. It is
commonplace to check emails at all hours, take business calls at the dinner table and work on our laptops on weekends. How has
this become acceptable?
Employers expect more from their people, which leads to them feeling more pressure to achieve greater results. Consequently, this
leads to longer working hours, and less time spent at home. As a business leader, you have a responsibility to help all your team
juggle the demands of their work and personal lives. Even your most engaged employees may still be struggling to find balance…

HOW IMPORTANT IS WORK-LIFE BALANCE?

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is not only important for health and relationships, but it can also improve your employee’s
productivity, and ultimately performance. Put simply, if your people don’t view work as a chore, then they will work harder, make
fewer mistakes and are more likely to become advocates for your brand.
Businesses that gain a reputation for encouraging work-life balance have become very attractive – especially when you consider how
difficult it can be to attract and retain younger workers these days. The Oxford Economic suggests, “Replacing an employee costs on
average around £30,000 and it takes up to 28 weeks to get them up to speed.” Bearing this in mind, it might be a good idea to keep your
existing employees happy. Focussing on work-life balance will help you draw a valuable talent-pool for new recruits and boost
retention rates. It will save time and money, whilst ensuring a high level of in-house talent.
Here are some more reasons why work-life balance is important for your people and your organisation:
FEWER HEALTH PROBLEMS
When we are stressed and over-worked, we run the risk of jeopardising more than just our social lives – our physical and mental health
is in danger too.
It’s no secret that when we are overworked, tired or stressed – our health will suffer. A poor work-life balance can lead to a variety of
symptoms that can affect our wellbeing. This ranges from the flu to serious health conditions like strokes and respiratory
problems. A study conducted by UCL of more than 10,000 participants stated that white-collar workers who worked three or more hours
longer than required had a 60% higher risk of heart-related problems than those who didn’t work overtime.
By encouraging your people to look after themselves and find balance, you will significantly limit health problems and absences. This
will ensure your organisation is more efficient during business hours and people want to be part of the business and culture.
MORE ENGAGEMENT
By helping your people to find the perfect balance between work and home, you will increase their engagement levels. This has many
positive effects: According to Tower Perrin’s 2006 global survey; “Companies with highly-engaged employees had a near 52% gap in
performance improvement in operating income.” Additionally – “Companies with high levels of employee engagement improved 19.2%
in operating income while companies with low levels of employee engagement declined 32.7%.”
Having an engaged workforce will lead to your people going ‘the extra mile’ for you and becoming loyal advocates for your brand and
product. This is evidenced by Temkin Group, who suggests that “engaged staff are 2.5 times more likely to stay at work late if
something needs to be done after the normal workday ends.”
LESS “BURNOUTS”
We all get stressed from time to time. It is unavoidable. However, workplace burnouts are avoidable, and you should make efforts to
ensure this doesn’t happen to your people. Burnouts occur when we feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. The
negative effects of burnout can affect every aspect of our lives.
The inability to separate work from home will massively increase the chances of burnout, so it is important to encourage your team to
take time off and “leave work at work.”
MORE MINDFULNESS
When we find and sustain a healthy work-life balance, we develop greater control over our focus and ability to concentrate on the task
at hand – this is known as mindfulness. Wouldn’t you prefer a team that is fully focused on whatever they are doing, instead of
worrying about work/home?
By encouraging your people to have a healthy work-life balance, you will create an environment where everyone is dedicated to the task
at hand. This will improve retention rates, productivity and ultimately profit.
Now we know why it is important, let’s explore how you can ensure your people have a healthy work-life balance:
TIPS TO IMPROVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Encourage time off:
Vacations are not a luxury, they are a necessity. A break from work will provide you with the chance to switch off and enjoy yourself, it
is also a great opportunity to recuperate and recharge. This is essential to help your people improve productivity and focus when
they return to the office.
Numerous studies show that vacations increase company productivity and reduce stress. The American Sociological Association
compiled a report, which suggests that a larger number of vacations lead to a decline in the psychological distress of people.
An effective way to encourage your people to take time off is to implement a “use it or lose it” system – whereby any unused days will
not be carried over at the end of the year or repaid financially.
Implement short breaks throughout the day:
If taking time off isn’t an option for your people, then it is important to encourage small breaks throughout the day. The human body
was not designed to stare at a bright screen for hours on end. It is not good for our health, or our mental wellbeing.
To combat this, you could consider installing a games room where people can socialise and take their minds off work. Consider
encouraging light exercise throughout the day and introducing walking meetings outside the office. You can even go out as a team to
grab a coffee. Some leading companies will get meditation practitioners in to help calm and de-stress their people.
All of these techniques will positively impact your teams’ work performance, productivity and workplace happiness.
Ask employees for guidance:
If you are struggling to come up with innovative ways to improve your employees’ work-life balance, then why not ask them?
If you notice that your people are struggling to find balance, then find out what changes they think would improve their situation. By
collaborating with your team, you will get more of an insight into the way they think, and you will be able to work together on
strategies more effectively in future.
To help you facilitate these discussions, consider having regularly scheduled meetings, or implement real-time cultural
feedback programmes to provide you with data-driven insights. This way you can accurately gauge how your people are feeling at
any given time and make adjustments to ensure that they have the right balance.
Practice what you preach:
Finally, it is important to lead by example. If you tell your people to leave at six and not work over the weekend, but you’re sending them
emails during these periods it sends a very mixed message. It also puts additional pressure on your people to mirror your working
hours. Lead by example and witness how your work practices will permeate throughout the business. There is a law in France called
the “Right to disconnect.” It ensures there are limits on the amount of work undertaken outside of office hours. Why not consider
implementing something similar within your workplace?
It is important to respect the balance and privacy of your team when they are not in the office. This means you should avoid contacting
them outside of office hours to allow them to fully switch off, and recharge from everyday work stresses.
Most of us will spend a massive percentage of our time at work. We let it take over and feed into all aspects of our lives. Bearing this in
mind it is essential to find the right balance and implement it in your workplace. This will allow you and your people to switch off
from work and give your personal lives equal measures of attention too.
By loosening the reigns when it comes to your people’s work-life balance, you will make huge strides towards building an engaged and
productive team.
CULTURAL ASSESSMENT SURVEY
Understand your culture. Create a thriving growth culture.
For organisations to maximise employee experience and performance, their people need to be both Happy and
Engaged. Happiness speaks to our hearts. Engagement speaks to our brains. By understanding how their people are thinking and
feeling the business will thrive. Our Cultural Assessment survey provides a detailed insight into both factors to provide a holistic
report into your cultural health.

Managing Your Time

1. The most game-changing advice I’ve gotten is this: If you’re truly going to act on your priorities, you need to dedicate time to them. So,
I took a weekly calendar and some crayons, and mapped out my priorities to create a “typical” week, with time dedicated to each of
my priorities: exercise, work, family time, and so forth. I started with the “big rocks:” the most important and least flexible
responsibilities (I learned this trick from Stephen Covey). For me, these were work and my children’s sports schedules. Then, I
decided when I get my best work done. For example, I knew that my job required time for “deep-thinking” work, so I dedicated one
day per week to be meeting-free. Alix Hughes
2. One of the biggest struggles is fitting it all in to 24 hours. Waking up at 4 AM gives me extra hours in the day, and this quiet time
allows me to complete projects before the house wakes up. Hannah Morgan
3. To make time for hobbies, passions, and relationships outside of work, I've made sure to have a short version of what I'd ideally love
to do for busy weeks. I'd rather have a nice long dinner with a friend if I can, but during a busy week, catching a 45-minute coffee
during the day is better than not seeing friends at all. I love biking, but it requires more time than I have most weeks, so I've picked
up running (reluctantly), since I can do it when I just have 20 minutes. Alex Cavoulacos
@dailymuse reduce or eliminate multi-tasking. Be where you are!
— kylie sachs (@tismoi) November 24, 2013
5. Instead of multi-tasking, I look for ways to overlap things. Best example: When my kids were little, I had no time for hobbies, but I was
dying to try birdwatching. So I introduced it to my seven-year old son, thinking he might like it, too. He was hooked, and so we
started doing birdwatching together. It became the perfect overlap of time together with a hobby for me. Kate White
6. We need to elongate the time frame upon which we judge the balance in our life, but we need to elongate it without falling into the
trap of the "I'll have a life when I retire, when my kids have left home, when my wife has divorced me, my health is failing, I've got no
mates or interests left." A day is too short; "after I retire" is too long. There's got to be a middle way. Nigel Marsh
Taking Time for You
7. It's important to remember that free time doesn't have to be available time. In other words, just because Wednesday night is empty
on your calendar, doesn't mean you have to say "yes" when your co-worker asks you to go to an event with her. It’s important to
remind yourself that you can turn invitations down for no other reason than you want that time to yourself, that your free time can
be just that—free. Erin Greenawald
8. When I have a good chunk of time to myself, I sometimes feel obligated to use it to get other things done, like errands or phone calls—
but I’ve learned that the only way to use that time to truly reduce my stress level is to do something totally for me. A yoga class or
quick burst of exercise is a good method to calm your spinning head, or enjoy some light-hearted TV or an ice cream or coffee date
with a friend. You could also spend an hour playing with the puppies at the pet store, indulging in the total silence of a library, or
browsing for random treasures at a thrift store. Jessica Taylor
9. I block out "me time" in the early evening. Even if I know that I'm going to get back online later and work, I realized that I'm a lot more
likely to go to the gym, see friends, or cook myself a real dinner if I give myself 7-9 PM "off" to do those things before getting back
 online. If I finish all my work first, or even "just do my high priority work"—it's 11 PM before I stop, and I am realistically not going
to go to the gym or call anyone up or even cook, I'm just going to finish my work for the night and crash. Melissa McCreery
@dailymuse I use my lunchtime to do some fun stuff - short market/store trips current fave #worklifebalancetips
— Kitchenbutterfly (@Kitchnbutterfly) November 23, 2013
11. Even if I’m feeling busy, I remind myself that time away from work and the computer is energizing and important. Scheduling
downtime requires a combination of time management (deciding when else to get the work done), working ahead when possible (so
I have more time later), and keeping a to-do list. Miriam Salpeter
Having a Social Life
12. While you usually reserve fun things for the weekends, plan at least one enjoyable activity during the week. You'll be able to head
into your work week with something to look forward to and have a way to blow off some steam if the week starts off too strong. Katie
Douthwaite
@dailymuse I look for activities that incorporate work and play so I can kill two birds with one stone, such as mixers and networking
events — Desirée M. (@ImDesi) November 23, 2013
14. Schedule recurring social activities, like a monthly book club or weekly dinner with your best friends. By having regular activities
like this written into your calendar, you'll be able to plan around them (instead of planning your social life around work).
@dailymuse Set times for yourself. If you reserve an evening for plans with friends/family, you'll focus more during the day.
— Melanie Albert (@melealbert) November 24, 2013
Managing Work
16. You’ll be hard pressed to find a boss who will object too much to you working on your off hours (unless she’s required to by law),
but that same boss will be just as impressed if you can do the work in the eight (OK, 10) hours each day you’re there already. Make
the most of the time you have in the office, and leave the rest for tomorrow. Jennifer Winter
17. If you start telling people you need to leave at a certain time, you’ll be much more likely to do so. Make the commitment to yourself,
and then share it with others: As you discuss plans and assignments throughout the day, tell your colleagues, “I’ve got to be out of
here on time tonight, so if you need something, let me know by 3 PM.” Try this method one day, then another, and then the next.
Eventually, you’ll retrain your colleagues to expect you to leave on time every day. Lea McLeod
18. Ever find yourself staying at work because you don't have a reason not to? Make reasons to leave. Join groups or sign up for
exercises classes that meet after work so you have to sign out at a reasonable hour. Make plans with friends ahead of time so you
can't back out and just stick around the office.
@dailymuse Methods of #renewal (meditation) coupled with finding projects in the work environment that are #enjoyable help maintain
balance
— Paul A. Mabelis (@CognitiveLibert) November 23, 2013
20. You have to plan when you'll leave the office from the beginning of the day. That means understanding what needs to get done for
the day and getting it done first so you aren't scrambling after hours to finish up. Also, block out the last 20 minutes before you plan
to leave to wrap up loose ends, so you aren't trying to send "one more email" after you were already supposed to head out of the
office.
21. Sometimes when you feel surrounded by work, it’s because, well, you’re surrounding yourself with work. So, be deliberate about
taking time before work, after work, or on your lunch break to step away from the office. Call your significant other, your mom,
or your best friend, and ask what’s going on with them, avoiding the temptation to discuss anything even remotely work-related.
Your job may be your focus for the rest of the day, but for a few minutes, move it to the back burner and focus on something
(anything) else. Sara McCord
22. Consider some highlights of your perfect day. What would you really enjoy doing? What’s absolutely necessary for you to get done?
Identify what tools or extras would make the mandatory work easier to complete. Aromatherapy while you grade papers? A
powerful run? Figure out what can help you, and build it into your day. Natalie Jesionka
Enjoying Weekends and Vacation
23. Instead of saving all of your life chores for Sunday, get them out of the way as soon as possible, either by doing them first thing
Saturday morning or dispersing them throughout the week. That way, instead of spending your last few hours of free time on Sunday
night scrubbing the bathtub, you'll be able to fill it with something fun and relaxing. Katie Douthwaite
24. Carve out some time on the weekends—at least a few hours, but ideally a whole day—to stay away from screens. Put your computer
and phone away and turn off the TV, then do something physical or creative that you really love. Go for a run. Draw. Write. Your mind
will be a little more refreshed and a little sharper by the end of it.
25. I always faced a double-edged sword on the weekends: I loved the feeling of being ahead on Monday morning if I worked during the
weekend, but I hated the feeling of losing any of my precious weekend to work. Then, I started doing some of the more mindless
work on my plate while I watched a movie on Sunday nights. I still felt like I got a full weekend, but felt ahead of the game come
Monday morning. Erin Greenawald
@dailymuse Using my vacation time! For me traveling is relaxing and mentally enriching. I come back to work happier and more
focused.
— Brandi Kolmer (@brandikolmer) November 23, 2013
27. The nature of many jobs is that there will never be an easy time to take time off, no matter how well you plan for it in advance. But
that's no reason to not go at all. It's in your employer's best interests to have well-rested and recharged employees, and vacation
time is a benefit that you've earned, just like salary, so you should use it. So instead of waiting for the perfect time—which may never
come along—decide that you will use your vacation time this year, and make the question one of what accommodations should be
made, rather than whether accommodations can be made. Alison Green
28. Before you leave for vacation, ask your boss if she expects you to check emails or listen to voice messages while you’re gone. While
it’s often necessary to stay at least a little connected, make sure you proactively set some boundaries. Feel free to let your boss know
 that you’ll only be able to check your phone and email occasionally—say, once a day, or a few times a week. Most bosses will be fine
if you only respond to critical messages until after you return to the office. Lynze Wardle Lenio
29. If you don't have enough PTO to take a full vacation, try taking a day off here and there for a stay-cation or long weekend. It may not
seem like much, but taking just a day or two to break out of the 9-to-5 grind can do wonders.
Making Time for Family
30. There is a phrase used by Hillary Clinton that stems from an African proverb: “It takes a village.” And it does! Getting comfortable
with others lending you a hand helps not only to give you comfort that your kids are in good hands, but it helps take the stress away.
I chose to have live-in help because I had an unpredictable schedule, lots of travel, late hours, and evening entertaining, and I couldn’t
have someone who had to look at the clock or bus schedule. But no matter what type of babysitter, nanny, or daycare choices you
make, accepting that you just cannot do it all, single-handedly, is the key. Cathie Black
31. When my baby was five months old, my husband and I decided to sleep train him (which basically meant letting him cry it out for
three nights in a row). Those nights were extremely hard, but the upside has been nothing short of amazing. Not only do I know that
each night from 7:30 PM to 6:30 AM I'll have time to do whatever I want—eat dinner with my husband, catch up on email,
watch House of Cards—but our son is so much more rested and in all around better spirits. I know sleep training can be
controversial, but as a working parent, I have no doubt it was one of the best things I've done for myself, my relationship, and my
baby. Dorothy McGivney
32. If you or your parenting partner is able to web-surf at work, use your downtime to set up auto-ship services for the essentials:
diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, and so on. Services like Amazon Prime and Diapers.com sell these items on the cheap, and they’ll
be delivered to your door with free shipping. Rikki Rogers
33. Flexible hours enabled by technology can allow parents to perform well at their jobs and take care of young children at the same
time. If you're an employee, talk with your boss about how working from home could boost your productivity, remembering to share
some specific examples of how your work will improve. Richard Branson
Getting Chores Done
34. Make your grocery run as efficient as possible by making a list coordinated to aisles or store sections. Take advantage of coupon
apps (many grocery stores have them). And if the whole family has to come along, get everyone involved: If you can walk, you can
shop. Rikki Rogers
35. By doing my least favorite chore at the beginning of each week, it feels entirely more manageable, not to mention frees me of the
burden throughout the rest of my week. The feeling of work burnout tends to increase as the week moves forward, so by
frontloading your work week evenings with your least favorite tasks, you can reserve the more enjoyable work night activities for
the end of the week. Monday is for laundry, Tuesday is for vacuuming and bills, Wednesday is for dry cleaning, Thursday is for a DVR
marathon. And so on. Rachell Buell
36. When trying to fit more in, minimize the amount of time doing anything you have to do. Try setting a goal to have dinner ready in 30
minutes or less. You'd be surprised how many things can be cooked in 25-30 minutes, and it's a surefire way of getting time back
several times a week. Bonus points for cooking several meals' worth on Sunday night and only having five minutes of reheat time.
37. Get creative with what chores you can outsource (and therefore avoid!). There are plenty of services out there that will take care of
your least favorite tasks for you, from cleaning and cooking to laundry and shopping. Check out our list of tasks to outsource now to get
you started.

Ways to Manage Stress

TIPS FOR REDUCING STRESS
 Stress Management
 Breathing Exercises
 Aromatherapy
 Stress Reduction Checklist
Stress is part of being human, and it can help motivate you to get things done. Even high stress from serious illness, job loss, a death in the
family, or a painful life event can be a natural part of life. You may feel down or anxious, and that’s normal too for a while.
Talk to your doctor if you feel down or anxious for more than several weeks or if it starts to interfere with your home or work
life. Therapy, medication, and other strategies can help.
In the meantime, there are things you can learn to manage stress before it gets to be too much. Consider these suggestions:
Exercise
To start with, physical activity can help improve your sleep. And better sleep means better stress management. Doctors don’t yet know exactly
why, but people who exercise more tend to get better deep “slow wave” sleep that helps renew the brain and body. Just take care not
to exercise too close to bedtime, which disrupts sleep for some people.

Exercise also seems to help mood. Part of the reason may be that it stimulates your body to release a number of hormones like endorphins and
endocannabinoids that help block pain, improve sleep, and sedate you. Some of them (endocannabinoids) may be responsible for the
euphoric feeling, or “runner’s high,” that some people report after long runs.
People who exercise also tend to feel less anxious and more positive about themselves. When your body feels good, your mind often follows.
Get a dose of stress relief with these exercises:
 Running
 Swimming
 Dancing
 Cycling
 Aerobics
If you don't have the time for a formal exercise program, you can still find ways to move throughout your day. Try these tips:
 Bike instead of driving to the store.
 Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
 Park as far as you can from the door.
 Hand-wash your car.
 Clean your house.
 Walk on your lunch break.
Diet
The benefits of eating health foods extend beyond your waistline to your mental health. A healthy diet can lessen the effects of stress, build up
your immune system, level your mood, and lower your blood pressure. Lots of added sugar and fat can have the opposite effect. And junk food
can seem even more appealing when you’re under a lot of stress.
To stay healthy and on an even keel, look for complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and fatty acids found in fish, meat, eggs, and nuts.
Antioxidants help too. They protect your cells against damage that chronic stress can cause. You can find them in a huge variety of foods like
beans, fruits, berries, vegetables, and spices such as ginger.
Stick to a healthy diet with a few simple tips. Make a shopping list. Carry healthy snacks with you when you leave the house. Stay away from
processed foods, and try not to eat mindlessly.
Scientists have pinpointed some nutrients that seem to help lessen the effects of stress on the body and mind. Be sure to get enough these as
part of a balanced diet:
 Vitamin C
 Magnesium
 Omega-3 fatty acids
Sleep
A common side effect of stress is that you may struggle to fall asleep. If this happens three times a week for at least 3 months, you may
have insomnia, an inability to fall and stay asleep. Lack of sleep can also add to your stress level and cause a cycle of stress and sleeplessness.

Better sleep habits can help. This includes both your daily routine and the way you set up your bedroom. Habits that may help include:
 Exercise regularly.
 Get out in the sunlight.
 Drink less alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime.
 Set a sleep schedule.
 Don’t look at your electronics 30-60 minutes before bed.
 Try meditation or other forms of relaxation at bedtime.
The role of your bedroom in good sleep hygiene also is important. In general, your room should be dark, quiet, and cool -- 60-65 degrees is
thought to be an ideal temperature to stay asleep. Your bed also plays an important role. Your mattress should provide support, space and
most of all, comfort.
Relaxation Techniques
Yoga. This is a form of exercise, but it can also be a meditation. There are many types of yoga. The ones that focus on slow
movement, stretching, and deep breathing are best for lowering your anxiety and stress.
Meditation. It has been around for over 5,000 years for a reason. Meditation works well for many people and has many benefits. It can lower
stress, anxiety, and chronic pain as well as improve sleep, energy levels, and mood. To meditate, you will need to:
1. Find a quiet place.
2. Get comfortable (sitting or lying down).
3. Focus your attention on a word, phrase, object, or even your breath.
4. Let your thoughts come and go and do not judge them.

Deep breathing. When you practice deep breathing, you turn on your body’s natural ability to relax. This creates a state of deep rest that can
change how your body responds to stress. It sends more oxygen to your brain and calms the part of your nervous system that handles your
ability to relax.
Try belly breathing. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Take a deep breath in
through your nose. You should feel your belly rise more than your chest. Now, exhale through your nose and pay close attention to how
your body relaxes. Repeat.
Biofeedback. Learn how to manage your heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure when stress hits. Biofeedback gives you information
about how your body reacts when you try to relax. Sensors are placed on your body that call out changes in everything from your brain-
wave pattern to your muscle tone. Working with a biofeedback therapist, you can start to take control of the signals by changing how your
body reacts to the sensor.

Connect with people. Spend time with a friend or family member who will listen to you. It is a natural way to calm you and lower your stress.
When you connect with people in person, your body releases a hormone that stops your fight-or-flight response. You relax.
Behavior. How you respond to people directly impacts your stress levels. Manage your response with these tips:
 Try not to overcommit yourself
 Share the responsibility
 Count to 10 before you respond
 Walk away from a heated situation
 Distract yourself with music or podcasts
Inner voice. Nothing affects your stress levels like the voice inside your head. The good news is you are in control. You can exchange negative
thoughts for positive ones. There are more benefits to positive self-talk than reducing stress. These include a longer life, lower levels
of depression, greater resistance to the common cold and cardiovascular disease, and better coping skills for when hard times hit.
Laugh therapy. When you laugh, you take in more oxygen. Your heart, lungs, and muscles get a boost and your body releases those feel-good
hormones. Laughter also improves your immune system, lessens pain, and improves your mood for long periods time.
Talk therapy. Long-term talk therapy helps some people deal with stress. One approach, cognitive behavioral therapy, helps you change
negative thought patterns. Your therapist can guide you toward other approaches that might be helpful.

Ways to Increase Your Emotional Intelligence

Developing your EQ skills is essential to professional success today

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, continues to be an increasingly popular skill to have in the professional world. Many may be wondering
why emotional intelligence continues to increase in importance among peers in an evolving workplace. Simply put, emotional
intelligence is not a trend. Major companies have compiled statistical proof that employees with emotional intelligence undoubtedly
affect the bottom line. In fact, companies with employees that have high levels of emotional intelligence see major increases in total
sales and productivity.
In a competitive workplace, developing your EQ skills is vital to your professional success. Below are 10 ways to increase your EQ:

1. Utilize an assertive style of communicating.

Assertive communication goes a long way toward earning respect without coming across as too aggressive or too passive. Emotionally
intelligent people know how to communicate their opinions and needs in a direct way while still respecting others.
2. Respond instead of reacting to conflict.
During instances of conflict, emotional outbursts and feelings of anger are common. The emotionally intelligent person knows how to
stay calm during stressful situations. They don't make impulsive decisions that can lead to even bigger problems. They understand
that in times of conflict the goal is a resolution, and they make a conscious choice to focus on ensuring that their actions and words
are in alignment with that.
3. Utilize active listening skills.
In conversations, emotionally intelligent people listen for clarity instead of just waiting for their turn to speak. They make sure they
understand what is being said before responding. They also pay attention to the nonverbal details of a conversation. This prevents
misunderstandings, allows the listener to respond properly and shows respect for the person they are speaking to.
4. Be motivated.
Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivated and their attitude motivates others. They set goals and are resilient in the face of
challenges.
5. Practice ways to maintain a positive attitude.
Don't underestimate the power of your attitude. A negative attitude easily infects others if a person allows it to. Emotionally intelligent
people have an awareness of the moods of those around them and guard their attitude accordingly. They know what they need to do
in order to have a good day and an optimistic outlook. This could include having a great breakfast or lunch, engaging in prayer or
meditation during the day or keeping positive quotes at their desk or computer.
6. Practice self-awareness.
Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware and intuitive. They are aware of their own emotions and how they can affect those around
them. They also pick up on others' emotions and body language and use that information to enhance their communication skills.
7. Take critique well.
An important part of increasing your emotional intelligence is to be able to take critique. Instead of getting offended or defensive, high
EQ people take a few moments to understand where the critique is coming from, how it is affecting others or their own performance
and how they can constructively resolve any issues.
8. Empathize with others.
Emotionally intelligent people know how to empathize. They understand that empathy is a trait that shows emotional strength, not
weakness. Empathy helps them to relate to others on a basic human level. It opens the door for mutual respect and understanding
between people with differing opinions and situations.
9. Utilize leadership skills.
Emotionally intelligent people have excellent leadership skills. They have high standards for themselves and set an example for others
to follow. They take initiative and have great decision making and problem-solving skills. This allows for a higher and more
productive level of performance in life and at work.
10. Be approachable and sociable.
Emotionally intelligent people come off as approachable. They smile and give off a positive presence. They utilize appropriate social
skills based on their relationship with whomever they are around. They have great interpersonal skills and know how to
communicate clearly, whether the communication is verbal or nonverbal.
Many of these skills may seem to be best suited for those who understand basic human psychology. While high EQ skills may come more
easily to naturally empathetic people, anyone can develop them. Less empathetic people just have to practice being more self-
aware and conscious of how they interact with others. By utilizing these steps, you'll be well on your way to an increase in your
emotional intelligence level.