How can you develop emotional intelligence for a more resilient Transportation Management career?

3 Manage your emotions

The third step to developing EI is to manage your emotions and regulate them appropriately according to the context and the desired outcome. Managing your emotions does not mean hiding or denying them, but rather choosing how to express them in a way that is respectful, constructive, and effective. You can use various strategies to manage your emotions, such as breathing exercises, meditation, positive affirmations, self-talk, humor, or distraction. You can also seek support from others who can help you cope with your emotions, such as your friends, family, or colleagues.

4 Understand others' emotions

The fourth step to developing EI is to understand others' emotions and empathize with them. Understanding others' emotions means being able to recognize, interpret, and respond to their verbal and non-verbal cues, such as their tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, or words. Empathizing with others' emotions means being able to put yourself in their shoes, feel what they feel, and show compassion and support. You can improve your understanding and empathy by listening actively, asking open-ended questions, reflecting back what you hear, and expressing your interest and concern.

5 Communicate with others

The fifth step to developing EI is to communicate with others effectively and respectfully. Communication is a key skill in Transportation Management, as you need to coordinate, collaborate, and negotiate with various stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, carriers, or regulators. To communicate with EI, you need to adapt your style, tone, and message to your audience, purpose, and situation. You also need to be clear, concise, and coherent, as well as assertive, respectful, and polite. You can enhance your communication by using positive and constructive feedback, active listening, emotional validation, and conflict resolution techniques.

6 Grow with others

The sixth and final step to developing EI is to grow with others and leverage your EI to build and maintain positive and productive relationships. Relationships are essential for your personal and professional growth, as they can provide you with support, feedback, learning, and opportunities. To grow with others, you need to cultivate trust, respect, and mutual understanding, as well as share your goals, values, and vision. You also need to appreciate and celebrate diversity, as well as acknowledge and learn from your mistakes and failures. By growing with others, you can create a culture of EI in your Transportation Management career that fosters resilience and adaptability.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?