Figure out who/what "pushes your buttons." After you experience an emotionally charged situation at work, stop and reflect on what caused it. Knowing who/what pushes your buttons is critical to developing the ability to take control of these situations. Pinpoint the specifics for what triggers your emotions to help you prepare to manage similar situations better in the future.
Learn how to capture the mood of the room. When you are in a contentious meeting, observe how people react to one another. Increase your EQ by becoming more aware of the emotions around you. Try these 8 steps to improve your social awareness.
Learn from Others
Take an emotional intelligence quiz and discuss the results with a trusted colleague. Use the results to help you develop a plan to work on specific skills to help you increase your emotional intelligence.
Speak to someone who is not emotionally invested in a problem you are facing. When you feel emotional about a situation, seek out their advice. Ask them to play devils advocate with you. You need someone to help you see what you don't see and enable you to gain new perspective. Give that person permission to challenge your assumptions.
Observe the ripple effect from your emotions. After a difficult situation, seek feedback from someone you trust. Spend time reflecting upon your behavior. Think about how your emotions affected the situation and decide what you could have done differently.
