4 Components Of Emotional Intelligence

by Raymund Tamayo

“When our emotional health is in a bad state, so is our level of self-esteem. We have to slow down and deal with what is troubling us, so that we can enjoy the simple joy of being happy and at peace with ourselves.” ― Jess C. Scott

I'm sure you are quite familiar about Intelligence Quotient (IQ). But have you heard of Emotional Quotient (EQ)? 

If not, then buckle up as we explore this thing called EQ in the next few blog posts.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

EQ is otherwise known as Emotional Intelligence, which is the ability to understand, manage, and use your own emotions and the emotions of others in a positive way. 

Some of the purposes of having high EQ is to relieve stress, manage expectations, empathize with others, communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and solve problems. 

The ability to become aware of our own emotions and the emotions of those around us, and the ability to discern how to appropriately respond to both, is essential. 

Imagine if you are unable to recognize whether the person in front of you is happy, sad, angry, or fearful. 

Worse, imagine if you could not understand what you are feeling right at this very moment. Your life would be a disaster.

Emotional Intelligence Can Be Improved

The ability to notice, comprehend, and assess your own and other people’s emotions, and to use these information to guide your thoughts and behaviors, is called emotional intelligence. 

While this quality is innate to human beings (the same thing as IQ or intellectual intelligence), this skill can also be developed and improved.

A well-developed emotional intelligence helps you foster stronger and more intimate relationships. Life is all about relationships. So having a healthy EQ will help a lot in cultivating them consistently.

The Four Components of Emotional Intelligence

There are four components of emotional intelligence. The first two are about yourself, while the remaining two are concerning others.

1. Self- consciousness (Being aware of one’s own emotions)

Knowing yourself and being conscious of your emotions is the first component of emotional intelligence.

Becoming aware of yourself involves observing your own emotions, distinguishing your different reactions, and then accurately knowing what kind of emotion you are presently having. 

When you know your own feelings and emotions and how they shape your attitude and actions, you can better understand yourself so your self-esteem and conviction becomes high.

2. Self-control (Managing your own emotions)

Being able to control or manage your own emotions is the second component of emotional intelligence.

Knowing your emotions is just the start. Learning how to manage it should follow. Properly managing your impulses and compulsive behaviors allows you to be on top of every situation. Do you know that most people have a commitment problem because they have an emotion problem in the first place?

When you can keep your emotions in check most of the time, you can finish off your obligations, follow through your responsibilities, and deliver all your promises. 

You will also be able to become proactive in everything you do and to appropriately adapt to change. This applies not only at work but also in your personal life, such as dealing with family and friends.

3. Sensitivity (Being aware of the emotions of others)

The third component of emotional intelligence is being sensitive to the emotions of others.

This is about understanding others and putting yourself into their position without being emotionally affected by it. 

Sensitivity also means identifying the exact emotional needs of a person, quickly grasping poignant cues, making others feel comfortable with your presence, and knowing when to take advantage of group emotions.

If you are able to understand, sympathize, and show compassion to the people around you, then you will be able to manage your relationships with them very well. Which brings us to the final aspect.

4. Sociability (Managing your relationship with others)

The fourth and final component of emotional intelligence is sociability. This involves managing all of your life’s relationships and making them more fruitful. 

The first three aspects actually conclude on this one. Your ultimate aim in developing emotional intelligence should be to become more relatable. 

Being relatable involves different kinds of skills which will be discussed in the following blog posts. Some examples of these skills are communication skills and people skills. 

Sociability also includes harnessing teamwork in a group and your ability to handle conflicts and disagreements.

See you again in the next post! Don't forget to write your insights in the comments section. Have a great day ahead!