Fortune Cookies and Emotional Intelligence
Have you ever gotten a negative quip inside your fortune cookie? No.
Here’s some of the ones I’ve cracked open:
“You will soon be surrounded by good friends and laughter.”
“Honesty and friendship bring you fortune.”
“Don’t give up. The best is yet to come.”
“Frequent conversations will fill your heart with joy.”
Fortune cookies are always positive missives, and I look forward to reading about my cheerful, prosperous, and hopeful future.
Pretend this article is your next fortune cookie. You’ve just finished your delicious Asian meal. You’ve just split your fortune cookie in half. It reads: “She who has great Emotional Intelligence will have a rewarding life. Read Karen’s article to find out more.”
What is Emotional Intelligence (EQ)?
Research suggests that a person’s emotional intelligence (EQ) might be a greater predictor of success than his or her intellectual intelligence (IQ), despite an assumption that people with high IQs will naturally accomplish more in life.
Emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to understand their own emotions and those of others, and to act appropriately using these emotions.
According to Daniel Goleman, the guru of EQ, there are four EQ competencies:
- Self awareness – self confidence
- Self management – adaptability, optimism
- Relationship awareness – empathy, service
- Relationship management – developing others
What does EQ have to do with you?
As a professional and leader of your team, EQ has a great deal to do with you and your business. Yes, your IQ is important. But, that’s a given. You wouldn’t have gotten into dental school, you wouldn’t be in practice, and you wouldn’t be a volunteer in your local dental society IF you did not come to the table with your IQ already in tact.
Your EQ helps define how you relate to your clients, how you relate to your team, and how you relate to yourself. In other words, your EQ can make you a better leader and a more satisfied professional financially and emotionally.
How can you enhance your EQ?
Steve Hein, author of EQ for Everybody, suggests these ways to practice and improve your EQ.
- Use three word sentences beginning with “I feel”. Take more responsibility for your feelings. Say, “I feel jealous.” vs. “You are making me jealous.”
- Start labeling feelings; stop labeling people & situations. Say, “I feel impatient.” vs “This is ridiculous.” Say, “I feel hurt and bitter.” vs. “You are an insensitive jerk.” Say, “I feel afraid.” vs. “You are driving like an idiot.”
- Analyze your own feelings rather than the action or motives of other people.
- Ask others how they feel — on a scale of 0-10. Show respect for other people’s feelings. Ask “How will you feel if I do this?” or “How will you feel if I don’t?”
- Don’t advise, command, control, criticize, judge or lecture to others. Instead, try to just listen with empathy and non-judgment.
- Identify your fears and desires.
- Validate other people’s feelings. Show empathy, understanding, and acceptance of other people’s feelings.
- Take responsibility for your emotions and happiness. Stop believing others cause your feelings. Don’t expect others to “make” you happy.
- Express your feelings – find out who cares – spend time with them.
- Develop the courage to follow your own feelings.
- Practice getting a positive value from emotions. Ask yourself: “How do I feel?” and “What would help me feel better?” Ask others “How do you feel?” and “What would help you feel better?”
What do Fortune Cookies have to do with EQ?
Fortune Cookies represent some of the wise tenets of Emotional Intelligence. Concepts like staying positive, staying encouraging, staying the course. Who knows. Maybe your next Fortune Cookie will say: “Awareness of your feelings is the key to self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is the key to self-improvement.
