How do you develop your emotional intelligence as a lifelong learner?

Great ways to get an honest self evaluation: 1) Start by writing a list of things you know you're great at and a list of things you're not so great at (it's okay to have flaws; we all do). 2) Ask close friends and family to describe the best attributes about you and some that they notice to be less desirable (be open and receptive. This is for a greater goal!) 3) Sit down and compare those notes and see what attributes match which habits/actions, if they fall in line with what you've already written out you're an honest broker with yourself. In the event it doesn't like up then move on to the last step. 4) A blind test is done with coworkers and others you're slightly acquainted with. See how their views align with family. Repeat if needed

Absolutely! Building on your self-awareness is the cornerstone of developing emotional intelligence. While tools and feedback from peers can offer valuable insights, it's also essential to reflect internally. Journaling moments of strong emotional reactions can be transformative. Over time, you'll identify patterns in your responses and can work proactively to navigate them more effectively. The journey to enhanced EI is ongoing, but recognizing both our strengths and areas for growth is a powerful starting point.

Meditation is often associated with focus and concentration, and many people find it difficult to meditate because they get distracted easily. However, what those people don't realize is that the distraction and refocus process during meditation is where emotional learning occurs. One way this learning occurs is when we refocus our attention during meditation we are training our minds to become more resilient and better equipped to deal with distractions in our daily lives. This can help us to become more focused, productive, and emotionally balanced.

I've tried to eliminate "at least" from my vocabulary. Saying something like "at you didn't get sick" when a family member is sick or "at least you still have your job" when a spouse was laid off can be extremely hurtful because it minimizes the totally valid feelings of another person.

What can get in the way of feeling empathetic towards someone else is not having experienced exactly what they have in a difficult situation. What can be helpful to remember is that you are connecting to what something feels like (e.g., you have also experienced grief, shame or disappointment) rather than the actual event (e.g., the death of a loved one to a specific medical condition, not getting a promotion or not being sales person of the year)

True. The way you communicate and interact with others reveals aspects of who you are as a person. Your tone of voice, choice of words, and nonverbal cues all contribute to the impression you make. People form opinions about your character, values, and personality based on your communication. If you approach others with genuine respect and care, being mindful of how your communication affects them, this will likely shine through in your interactions. By listening actively and speaking thoughtfully, you can build trust and foster positive relationships through effective communication. Focus on communicating in a way that contributes value. Think about how to clearly convey your message while putting others at ease.

When feedback is specific, we get to learn faster. One way to ensure you receive specific feedback is to let the person know what you are looking to improve, to ask them to pay attention to you in action, and then offer their perspective on your behaviour. Example: - I'm looking to improve my presentation skills. Would you be willing to help me by observing my next presentation and then giving me specific feedback on my body language, tone of voice and any filler words, such as "um," "ah," or "you know"? Thank you, I'd be happy to return the favour.

When offering feedback to someone else, specifically identify what you need them to change to be more effective *and* then follow that up with what you need to see instead. An example could look like: When I have requested feedback on a specific task and you don't have feedback yet, please still drop me an email to acknowledge the request and advise what you have done so far so that I know you are taking action.

Emotional intelligence thrives on curiosity and empathy. As a lifelong learner, nurture these qualities by actively listening to others, embracing diverse perspectives, and reflecting on your emotional reactions. This self-awareness, combined with consistent practice in real-world interactions, creates a dynamic cycle of learning and growth that adapts to each stage of life.