By Josephine Agbonkhese

Your ability to manage your emotions, as well as recognise and influence others’, has been considered one of the strongest indicators of success in life.

Boosting your emotional intelligence however, involves developing skills in recognising, understanding, and managing your emotions, and those of others. Find here some practical steps to help.

★Reflect on your emotions: Regularly take time to observe and understand your emotions. Journaling can be a great way to track your feelings and patterns.

★Identify triggers:

Learn what causes certain emotional responses and how you react to them. This helps you anticipate emotional reactions and manage them effectively.

★Practice mindfulness:

Engage in mindfulness or meditation to help you stay calm and composed, even in stressful situations. This improves your ability to manage emotions in the moment.

★Pause before reacting:

When you feel strong emotions like anger or frustration, take a moment to breathe and assess the situation before responding.

★Listen actively:

Pay close attention when others speak, and try to understand their emotions and perspectives. Reflect on their words, body language, and tone.

★Put yourself in others’ shoes: Practice seeing things from someone else’s viewpoint, even if you don’t agree with them. This enhances your ability to relate to and understand others’ emotions.

★Work on expressing yourself clearly:

Work on expressing yourself clearly and respectfully. Good communication helps in understanding others’ emotions and sharing your own.

★Adaptability:

Stay open to change and be willing to adjust your responses based on the situation.