Program your brain
and develop your EQ
Train and develop your emotional brain
According to research by the University of Maryland, over 70% of top managers consider emotional intelligence (EQ) more important than IQ. Not surprising, because EQ strongly predicts performance in the workplace. Those who develop their emotional brain improve relationships, decision-making and influence. All the more reason to develop your EQ. The first step to growth starts in your brain.
Powerful brain
Your brain allows itself to be trained, as does your body. This requires action. Just signing up for a gym membership won’t change anything if you don’t exercise. Through exercise, you develop new emotional behaviors that eventually become habits. Thanks to “plasticity,” your brain adapts. With repetition, you make emotional intelligence increasingly second nature.
Reprogram that thought
Negative thoughts show up more often than you’d like, but they can be changed. A negative thought is nothing but continuous repetition of your own beliefs. You have more influence over those beliefs than you think. Put a positive spin on the negative thought. Change “I’m not good at this” to “I can learn this” or “I did something similar and it went well.” With such affirmations, you train your brain to respond differently.
Increase empathy? Yes!
Empathy grows from curiosity and genuine interest. Ask open-ended questions that cannot be answered with a “yes” or “no. Listen intently. Find the thought behind the answer. Check if your interpretation is correct. Share your own perspective as well. By adopting an open attitude yourself, you invite the other person to do the same. In this way, mutual understanding grows and you perceive emotional signals more easily.
Find the trigger and thus balance
The connection between your rational and emotional brain determines your EQ. Stress makes that interplay a little trickier. When stressed, the emotional brain takes over. Your body floods you with adrenaline and cortisol, the same neurotransmitters and hormones that protected us evolutionarily during life-threatening situations. Your ability to think temporarily sinks. Seeing solutions is less likely to work. Decisions feel heavier. Your brain chooses instinct over insight.
Therefore, know your stress triggers. Think back to moments when emotions took over you completely. What did you feel? What did your body do? How do you relax again? Do you see any patterns? By recognizing your triggers, you are more likely to build a bridge between emotion and reason and keep control of your reaction.
The benefits of developing your EQ
Your brain is made up of billions of neurons that are constantly making new connections. One neuron can form thousands of connections. That network grows as soon as you consciously practice. By repeatedly training your brain, you convert an intention into action. That’s exactly where stronger EQ begins.
Wondering how to further strengthen your emotional intelligence? Discover more in the training course Emotional Intelligence in 4 months.
