The Human Side of Tech: Emotional Intelligence

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The only way to deal with emotions is to find a way to express them.


The term gained prominence with the publication of Daniel Goleman's book "Emotional Intelligence" in 1995, but the underlying ideas have been studied and discussed by psychologists for decades.

At its core,  Emotional Intelligence means having a deep awareness of emotions—both your own and those of others. 

This heightened sensitivity serves as a foundation for conflict resolution and relationship cultivation.

Simply asking someone how their day is going and observing their facial expressions and tone of voice makes a difference. 

In life, change is the only constant; hence, we can't always expect our coworkers to be equally responsive and cheerful every day.

It's crucial to recognize that they might be facing challenges we're unaware of, such as dealing with the recent loss of a family member or an undisclosed injury.

Our ability to detect signs of distress not only enables us to offer better support to our colleagues, but also encourages us to seek help when we ourselves are going through tough times.

For example, we may not even realize the extent of our own stress until we're completely burnt out.

With that being said, here are some habits that you can adopt to become more emotionally intelligent:

Journaling

  • Write about your day, interactions, and experiences. Consider what made you feel happy, frustrated, or any other emotions. 
  • If you experienced strong emotions, try to identify what triggered them. This could be a person, situation, or internal thought.

Active Listening

  • When conversing with others, focus on truly listening rather than just waiting for your turn to speak. 
  • Maintain eye contact to show your focus and interest.

Asking Open-Ended Questions

  • Encourage others to share their feelings and thoughts by asking questions that go beyond yes/no answers.
  • Instead of asking "Did you have a good day?" ask "How was your day?"

Deep Breathing 

  • Use deep breathing to manage stress in challenging situations. Take a few deep breaths before responding.
  • Choose a quiet and comfortable space where you can sit or lie down in a relaxed position.

Being Open-Minded

  • Approach conversations and situations with a genuine curiosity to learn from others' viewpoints.
  • Understand that everyone has biases and preconceived notions. Acknowledge your own biases and be willing to challenge them.

Reading Fiction 

  • Reading diverse fiction exposes readers to cultural norms, traditions, and emotional experiences from around the world.
  • Readers can gain insights into the complexities of human interactions and the emotions that drive them.

Resources

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