emotional intelligence
Reading people well
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—both your own and others'.
Someone with high emotional intelligence reads social cues accurately, regulates their reactions under stress, and navigates relationships skillfully.
The concept gained popularity in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional IQ: Her emotional intelligence made her an effective manager even without technical expertise.
Concern for others' distress
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- perspective-takingUnderstanding another's viewpoint
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
caring · sympathy · warmth · consideration · attunement · supportive · gentleness · concern
Managing one's own behavior
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- impulse controlRegulating sudden urges
- composureEmotional self-control
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
coping · stress management · resilience · patience · temperance · grounding · de-escalation · reframing
Observing one's own mind
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-observationExamining one's own mind
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
self-knowledge · metacognition · mindfulness · recognition · clarity · self-perception · inner awareness · triggers
Between two or more people
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- rapport-buildingDeveloping comfortable professional connection
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- conflict resolutionSettling disputes between parties
negotiation · influence · persuasion · assertiveness · diplomacy · networking · leadership · team dynamics
Ability to direct others
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- team buildingFostering workplace collaboration
- performance reviewsFormal employee evaluations
- organizational cultureInstitution's collective behavioral norms
coaching · mentoring · human resources · professional development · executive presence · retention · collaboration · conflict management
Psychological measurement science
- cognitive-behavioralRelating thought to action
- developmental psychologyScience of lifelong human change
- social psychologyScience of group influence on individuals
- personalityCharacteristic mental patterns
neuroscience · amygdala · prefrontal cortex · attachment theory · therapeutic · counseling · mental health · psychological research
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- perspective-takingUnderstanding another's viewpoint
kindness · caring · sympathy · warmth · consideration · attunement · supportive · gentleness · concern · affinity
self-regulation
Managing one's own behavior
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- impulse controlRegulating sudden urges
- composureEmotional self-control
equanimity · coping · stress management · resilience · patience · temperance · grounding · de-escalation · reframing · breathing techniques
introspection
Observing one's own mind
- self-reflectionExamining one's own mind
- self-examinationScrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-observationExamining one's own mind
insight · self-knowledge · metacognition · mindfulness · recognition · clarity · self-perception · inner awareness · triggers · blind spots
interpersonal
Between two or more people
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- rapport-buildingDeveloping comfortable professional connection
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
conflict resolution · negotiation · influence · persuasion · assertiveness · diplomacy · networking · leadership · team dynamics · reading the room
leadership
Ability to direct others
- managementOrganizing and directing resources
- team buildingFostering workplace collaboration
- performance reviewsFormal employee evaluations
organizational culture · coaching · mentoring · human resources · professional development · executive presence · retention · collaboration · conflict management · motivation
psychometrics
Psychological measurement science
- cognitive-behavioralRelating thought to action
- developmental psychologyScience of lifelong human change
- social psychologyScience of group influence on individuals
personality · neuroscience · amygdala · prefrontal cortex · attachment theory · therapeutic · counseling · mental health · psychological research
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- leadershipleadership styles, leader, leadership skills, boss, leading
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
- abilitiesstrength, agility, endurance, flexibility, dexterity
- intellectintellect, brainpower, mind, cognition, smartness
- intelligencesmart, IQ, memory, bright, clever
emotional intelligencetone-deafness
Inability to perceive pitch
insensitivity · lack of empathy · callousness · empathy deficit · obliviousness
emotional intelligenceemotional dysregulation
Poor control over feelings
emotional volatility · emotional instability · impulsivity · reactivity · emotional immaturity
emotion, emotional, intelligent, intelligence, emotions, unemotional, emotionless, emotionally, emotive