Nurturing Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
By Angel L. Santiago
With insight from Eddie Martinez, Manager of the Trek Bike Shop
“As more and more artificial intelligence is entering the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership.”
– Amit Ray, Mindfulness Meditation for Corporate Leadership and Management
If you’ve checked out any of my previous articles, you know that self-leadership is the key to being a great leader. When it comes to self-leadership, having emotional intelligence (or EQ) is a superpower when it comes to being effective in both personal and professional relationships. The higher your EQ, the better you’ll be at handling tough situations.
According to HelpGuide.org, EQ is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. When you can do this well, the people you lead and serve will feel valued, leading to a healthier and more engaged team. It also shows that you’re on their side and helps to build trust and respect between everyone.
The importance of Emotional Intelligence:
97% of highly successful individuals measure high in EQ.
According to Forbes, 85% of financial success is due to EQ and 15% to IQ.
EQ in leaders is an effective indicator of talent retention.
High EQ results in effective decision-making and reduced managerial risk.Individuals with high EQ tend to be three times less likely to be involved in a work accident.Team member engagement is highly correlated to EQ, and an engaged team member is 30% more productive than one who is neutral.
In conversation with Eddie Martinez, Manager of the Trek Bike Shop [formerly Bike World] on Broadway, he firmly believes that your success depends on how successful you are with your own EQ. He says, “It sets the tone. You are the leader, and having a healthy relationship with your emotions is imperative. Being able to keep calm during times of stress or uncertainty helps your team feel that they can depend on you.”
I couldn’t agree more!
When it comes to EQ, there are 5 elements or attributes that define it:
• Self-awareness: Knowing thyself.
• Self-regulation: Managing negative emotions.
• Motivation: Your drive to improve and achieve.
• Empathy: Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
• Social skills: Being a ‘people person.’
Be real with yourself for a moment. How are you really doing in each of these areas? The better you’re doing, the easier it’ll be for you to connect with others and have good relationships with them. It all begins by connecting with yourself and building a healthy relationship with your own emotions.
To build a good relationship with your emotions, it’s important to have tools that you can use to regulate yourself. These tools can help you stay grounded and calm when feeling intense emotions. “I like to remove myself from the situation – take a pause – so I can process and figure out what kind of action I want to take,” Martinez shared.
One of the most powerful tools for regulating your emotions is the breath. Because it has a direct and immediate connection to the nervous system and the brain. Think about it: when you’re in a heightened state, you tighten up and start holding your breath. So when you can take a moment to breathe, maybe go outside or go for a walk, you bring yourself back to a calm, centered state to manage the situation more effectively.
One of the simplest and most effective breathing techniques for calming yourself down is the “4-7-8 Breathing.” It’s easy to remember and can quickly help reduce stress and anxiety. Here’s how to do it:
• Find a comfortable seated position or lie down if you prefer.
• Close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so.
• Take a deep breath in quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
• Hold your breath for a count of seven.
• Exhale completely and audibly through your mouth to a count of eight.
• Repeat this cycle (inhale for four, hold for seven, exhale for eight) three more times for a total of four breath cycles.
• After completing the four cycles, breathe normally for a few moments and notice how you feel.
Incorporating deep breathing exercises into your daily routine or using them during stressful situations can be a valuable tool for emotional regulation and maintaining a sense of calm and balance. Practicing regularly, you’ll find that it’ll become a useful tool for calming yourself down when needed.
So, how emotionally intelligent are you, and how can you develop further? Scan below and find out how.
Blessings,
LifeCoachAngel
