5 Ways You Can Improve Emotional Intelligence

3 min readOct 15, 2023

Emotional intelligence is now considered a serious skill. So what is it? Emotional intelligence, or EI, is how you handle your emotions and empathize with others. You will see that people with high EI do not break apart during the hardest of failures. Have you ever thought about how sports persons or athletes maintain calm even after losing tournaments? Yes, not everyone can, or sometimes things just go beyond your control. But you need a certain level of emotional intelligence to shake hands with your opponent and congratulate them.

In most cases, that would help you clear your mind and think rationally. When one becomes emotional, there’s a tendency to act impulsively. With improved emotional intelligence, you will not do or say something you regret later. Here are five ways you can do it.

1. Self-awareness

Just be true to yourself. Don’t hide your feelings to yourself. Whatever you feel, acknowledge it, even if it seems inappropriate at times. For instance, if your friend lands a job that you once dreamed of, and despite wanting to be happy for them, you feel a tinge of jealousy; know that it’s a natural emotion. Acknowledge it and then process it. Be mindful of what triggers you. Remove yourself from that situation. Don’t mix with people who upsets you too much. Meditation can help you become more aware of your feelings. Journaling also makes up for an effective tool for gaining insights into your emotions.

2. Empathy

A very important ability indeed. To listen to others and understand their feelings. You may not always share the same perspective or opinion, but it’s important that you still empathize with others. Try to put yourself in their shoes and understand their perspective without imposing your judgments. Engage in meaningful conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, and be open to hearing about their experiences. The more you practice empathy, the better you’ll become at connecting with others on a deeper emotional level.

3. Be social

Man is a social animal. And no matter how much of an introvert you are, we all need someone to lean on! Most of us have 2–3 close friends with whom we share everything. Try to be honest with them. Instead of bottling your emotions up, talk to them. Get it off your chest. Try to mix with others, as that would help you navigate through relationships effectively. Learn how to express your needs to colleagues, superiors, or clients. Offer them feedback, show appreciation, and you will soon develop strong interpersonal bonds.

4. Practice resilience

Emotional intelligence involves being adaptable and resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks. Develop a mindset that will allow you to view failures as opportunities for learning and personal growth. Embrace change as a natural part of life and focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Surround yourself with people who can support you during tough times and encourage your emotional growth.

5. Managing emotions

This is probably not easy for everyone, but you must try. Try to manage both your positive and negative emotions. Think a second before reacting. Is this a good time? Is this a convenient place? Am I going to regret what I am about to do? A moment’s reflection can save you a lot of embarrassment in the future. And if you feel like you cannot, remove yourself from the place. Learn to identify the underlying reasons for your feelings and address them constructively.

Emotional intelligence is not as difficult as it sounds. To improve the same, you must be mindful of your emotions and others. Be kinder to yourself and others. When it improves and your stress starts going down, it will result in your overall well-being.

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