You’re a product manager who wants to communicate better. How can you tap into your emotional intelligence?

1 Why EI matters for PMs

Emotional intelligence is not a nice-to-have skill for product managers. It's a must-have. Why? Because product management is all about solving problems for people, and people are emotional beings. You can't create products that meet user needs, deliver value, and delight customers without understanding their emotions and motivations. You also can't lead teams, collaborate with cross-functional partners, or influence decisions without being aware of your own emotions and how they affect your communication style and behavior. EI helps you empathize with others, adapt to different situations, and resolve conflicts.

3 How to boost your self-awareness

Self-awareness is the foundation of EI. It's the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and triggers. To improve your self-awareness, you need to practice mindfulness and reflection. Mindfulness is the act of paying attention to the present moment, without judgment or distraction. You can practice mindfulness by meditating, breathing deeply, or focusing on your senses. Reflection is the act of reviewing your actions, thoughts, and feelings, and learning from them. You can practice reflection by journaling, asking yourself questions, or seeking feedback.

4 How to improve your self-management

Self-management is the ability to regulate and control your emotions, impulses, and actions. It's the skill that enables you to stay calm, focused, and productive, even under pressure or uncertainty. To enhance your self-management, you need to develop coping strategies and habits. Coping strategies are techniques that help you deal with stress, frustration, or anger, such as taking a break, talking to someone, or exercising. Habits are routines that help you maintain your well-being, such as sleeping well, eating healthy, or setting goals.

5 How to increase your social awareness

Social awareness is the ability to perceive and understand the emotions, needs, and perspectives of others. It's the skill that allows you to empathize with users, customers, and stakeholders, and to build rapport and trust. To boost your social awareness, you need to practice active listening and observation. Active listening is the art of paying attention to what others say, how they say it, and what they mean, without interrupting or judging. You can practice active listening by asking open-ended questions, paraphrasing, or summarizing. Observation is the skill of noticing the non-verbal cues, such as body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice, that reveal the emotions and intentions of others.