Emotional Intelligence 2.0 — Knowing Your Emotions
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) really intrigues me. My first job out of college (a long ago) was at a small children's publishing company, Enchanté, in Woodside, California. Located just steps away from Alice’s Restaurant, inside the founder’s home; we designed an Emotional Intelligence curriculum for young children. I truly believe; as a society, we really should teach our children how to deal with emotions. It was at Enchanté, where I met Ayman Sawaf and Robert Cooper who authored several books on EQ.
As a user experience designer; it’s important to have a keen sense of a users’ emotions so I can create delightful user experiences. By understanding their emotions; I can tailor a design to help ensure positive emotions. The information I learned about Emotional Intelligence proved to be infinitely helpful in my design career.
Through the years, I have continued to learn about our emotions and how they affect our lives. It had been a few years since I read Daniel Goleman’s book about EQ so was a bit excited to read Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Jean Graves.
Emotional Intelligence is what separates mediocre leaders from the great ones. The ability to recognize and manage your own emotions is the starting point for recognizing emotions in others and choosing behaviors that build long-lasting relationships with others.
“The only way to change someone’s mind is to connect with them from the heart.” -Rasheed Ogunlaru
Immensely practical, Emotional 2.0 describes emotional and social intelligence in a way that is easily understood. The practical suggestions organized under each of the four components of emotional and social intelligence provide components that can be customized to achieve new levels of emotional and social intelligence. High emotional and social intelligence is correlated with high performance. The great news is that we can grow and expand our emotional and social intelligence.
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ll information entering your brain travels initially through the reptilian (basal) area where it necessarily, unavoidably triggers an emotional response. So, in essence; you are reacting emotionally to every word you hear, every picture you see, every aroma you smell; all before any of that information ever reaches the frontal lobes where rational and analytical thinking takes place.
This book does an amazing job of heightening your awareness of these initial emotional responses and how they are affecting every moment of your life. Further, the book guides your development of the skills necessary to manage those reactions effectively.
The authors use great narratives to articulate various concepts, and their research is both compelling and original. My favorite anecdote in the book is the captivating story of a surfer who survives a run in with a great white shark, by using his emotional intelligence.
“The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions.” -John Hancock
Additionally, the book helps you understand the emotional footprint you are leaving in your wake and how it affects others so that you can manage that aspect of your behavior also. If you want to be a happier, lighter, more effective person and have a positive influence on those around you; then you will surely benefit from this book.
I highly recommend Emotional Intelligence 2.0 for those of us who are challenged with recognizing and managing our emotions. And, those who want to be more successful at home, socially, or in their careers and in life. This book is an excellent tool to take an initial introspective measure on a side of ourselves we often overlook and never seek to improve, let alone realize the opportunities for improvement!