How can you build a network of mentors and advisors for emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own and others' emotions, and to use them effectively in various situations. EI can help you improve your communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, as well as your well-being and happiness. However, developing EI is not something you can do alone. You need a network of mentors and advisors who can support you, challenge you, and inspire you to grow your EI. In this article, you will learn how to build such a network and how to leverage it for your personal and professional development.

1 Identify your EI goals

Before you start looking for mentors and advisors, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your EI. What are your strengths and weaknesses in EI? What are the specific skills or competencies you want to improve or acquire? How do they relate to your career aspirations or personal interests? Having a clear vision of your EI goals will help you find the right people who can help you reach them.

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Sam Eze, Jr., PMP®

Program and Project Management Professional || PM Trainer and Mentor || Managed Services Expert || Management Consultant || Solutions Architect || Cybersecurity Architect || Frontend Web Developer
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Absolutely. It also aids commitment. When you know exactly what you're looking for, it's easier to be committed when you find it. Otherwise, the arrangement is as good as dead from the start.

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2 Seek diverse perspectives

One of the benefits of having a network of mentors and advisors is that you can learn from different perspectives and experiences. You don't have to limit yourself to one or two mentors who are similar to you or who work in your field. You can seek mentors and advisors from various backgrounds, industries, roles, and levels of seniority. You can also look for people who have different EI styles or preferences, such as introverts or extroverts, thinkers or feelers, assertive or cooperative. By exposing yourself to diverse perspectives, you can broaden your EI and gain insights that you might not otherwise discover.

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Sam Eze, Jr., PMP®

Program and Project Management Professional || PM Trainer and Mentor || Managed Services Expert || Management Consultant || Solutions Architect || Cybersecurity Architect || Frontend Web Developer
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You could join online groups that share a common interest in EI preferences. This could expand your perspective on many issues, can could help you develop the EI skills you need at a faster pace.

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3 Build trust and rapport

To make the most of your network of mentors and advisors, you need to establish trust and rapport with them. This means that you need to be respectful, honest, and appreciative of their time and expertise. You also need to be open, curious, and willing to listen and learn from them. You can build trust and rapport by showing genuine interest in them, asking thoughtful questions, sharing relevant information, giving feedback, and expressing gratitude. You can also use your EI skills to communicate effectively, empathize with them, and adapt to their communication styles and preferences.

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Sam Eze, Jr., PMP®

Program and Project Management Professional || PM Trainer and Mentor || Managed Services Expert || Management Consultant || Solutions Architect || Cybersecurity Architect || Frontend Web Developer
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Empathy means that you feel the other's pain in your heart. This can be accomplished by effectively listening. Then, unspoken words can be understood, and you can connect easily, because most of us have a least one common interest in life— the need to be loved and appreciated.

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4 Seek feedback and guidance

One of the main purposes of having a network of mentors and advisors is to get feedback and guidance on your EI development. Feedback is essential for learning and improving your EI, as it helps you identify your strengths and areas for improvement, as well as your blind spots and biases. Guidance is also helpful for finding solutions and strategies to overcome challenges and achieve your goals. You can seek feedback and guidance from your mentors and advisors by asking specific and open-ended questions, requesting examples and suggestions, and applying their advice to your own situations.

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5 Nurture the relationship

Building a network of mentors and advisors is not a one-time event. It is a long-term process that requires ongoing effort and commitment. You need to nurture the relationship with your mentors and advisors by keeping in touch, following up, and updating them on your progress and achievements. You also need to reciprocate the value they provide by offering your own support, advice, or referrals when appropriate. You can nurture the relationship by setting regular meetings or check-ins, sending thank-you notes or messages, sharing relevant resources or opportunities, and celebrating successes and milestones.

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6 Expand your network

Finally, you can build your network of mentors and advisors by expanding it over time. You don't have to stick to the same people forever. You can add new mentors and advisors as your EI goals and needs change, or as you encounter new challenges and opportunities. You can also leverage your existing network to connect with other potential mentors and advisors, by asking for introductions, referrals, or recommendations. You can expand your network by attending events, joining groups, or participating in online platforms related to EI or your field of interest.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Felipe Seródio

Subsea Equipment Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | Power BI | VBA | HOD | High IQ (Mensa)
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Consider that emotional intelligence is still a young science, so many people do it in many different ways and that's not entirely wrong. After all, we are human, and the correct way to live life and deal with our emotions is a large and comprehensive area. Therefore, look for different perspectives on emotional regulation, such as psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, sexual therapy, NLP, among others. This will open up your scope and make you realize that many things can actually be therapy without having the name “therapy”.

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How can you build a network of mentors and advisors for emotional intelligence?

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1 Identify your EI goals

2 Seek diverse perspectives

3 Build trust and rapport

4 Seek feedback and guidance

5 Nurture the relationship

6 Expand your network

7 Here’s what else to consider

Emotional Intelligence

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How can you build a network of mentors and advisors for emotional intelligence?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify your EI goals

2 Seek diverse perspectives

3 Build trust and rapport

4 Seek feedback and guidance

5 Nurture the relationship

6 Expand your network

7 Here’s what else to consider

Emotional Intelligence

Rate this article

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