How can you improve your clients' emotional intelligence in a high-stress environment?

I remember when I started my certification as a coach, one of the question that I had to answer was to define what Emotional Intelligence was. For me, it is really about working on narrowing the gap between "who I am" and "how I show up".

1. I start with a Values Assessment so clients can identify, define, and energize their values to make confident decisions. 2. From there, I conduct an Energy Leadership Index Assessment to show them how they are using their personal energy to benefit them, as well as where their personal energy is in control, and holding them back. 3. Once a client understands the 7energy zones, I introduce them to my five energetic success principles, which help them create energetic shifts so they can be constructive versus destructive. These tools all build Emotional Intelligence and when used consistently, foster higher levels of EI.

I typically help clients to discover their strengths and help them understand that their weaknesses are a natural consequence of either overplaying strengths, or applying strengths in the wrong context. This way they either develop balancing strengths or seek contextually effective leadership opportunities.

Helping clients to revisit their strengths and weaknesses may help them to achieve more relaxed states as they could get some reassurances from the strengths and strategies to address their weaknesses. Moreover, uncertainty (a strong stressor), could be reduced by reinforcing and looking for more abilities that could be rescued from past experiences, enhancing self-steam and reducing vulnerability.

It is useful to assess with the client what their triggers are in a high stress environ. These would be places to look at. - Emotions they cannot handle with ease. Often fear, anger, dissapointment - Phrases and language from others that throw them off balance - People who are triggers. This allows coach and client to create a recovery plan.

A large part of that EQ "pie" should center around self-awareness. It is the ability to be self-aware that enables you to reflect and find improvement. This will mean holding the space for negative emotions, listening to one's own internal introspection and inner voices, recognizing our emotional limits, and having compassionate conversations with ourselves., for a start.

Emotions are information but We have a tendency (myself included) to shut down, or stuff, our emotions and disconnect from the bodily experience, and rely on our brain to make sense of situations It is the narrative that we attach to the emotion that creates more trauma The first step is to notice the feelings (and the stories) so you can refocus on the body. Explore where the feeling exists, the sensation, the localization or radiating movement Be with it and learn what it means in the absence of the story

Knowing EI has become a key ability among top leaders. Knowing your emotional state (first) as well as to connect with others (second) are the key issues to address when looking for enhancing your EI abilities. It’s very important to look for an external source (e.g. coaching ) to help leaders in the getting to know themselves better and better. For the second stage practice becomes the best strategy of all.

My go to place to teach EI is to help clients track their somatic responses to stress. Awareness work around breath, body tensions and contractions are the most helpful. Teaching them different kinds of mindfulness based approaches to this is great too.

In my experience, the one question that always helped clients to practice EI in stressful situations was 'What is in your control at the moment?'. This nudges them to stop and reflect, and come up with answers that help them feel more in control. The biggest plus? This helps in listing out immediate action items that they can do, which has an impact on the situation at hand in small or big ways. From being scattered to being focused, this acts as a powerful question.

Elevating clients' emotional intelligence amid high stress involves hands-on practice. Personally, I inquire clients through real-world scenarios, encouraging the application of EI skills. From active listening to effective communication, regular practice transforms theory into ingrained habits. By fostering a consistent practice routine, clients not only enhance their emotional intelligence but also fortify resilience in challenging environments. Make EI skills a daily habit for lasting impact.

Support clients to do tough conversations by equipping them with skills for - rapport - empathy - mirroring another - Using I language - using emotion based enquiry. - skilling them to ask questions that clarify

In high-stress settings, enhancing clients' emotional intelligence involves encouraging them to seek feedback and build a support system. Personally, I guide clients to actively seek input on their emotional responses, fostering self-awareness. Emphasizing the importance of a supportive network, I've witnessed clients thrive when surrounded by understanding allies. By promoting a culture of feedback and support, clients not only boost their EI but also navigate stress with resilience and connection.

Certainly!!! Stress could also be caused by over focusing in a single issue. Getting the coachee out of his comfort zone will surely readdress our coachee’s attention and resources to grow and develop new strategies and abilities to reach new goals. Getting the coachee out of the comfort zone will engage all his attention and focus which will avoid mental processes that promote stress.

Deep situational and self awareness are critical. You don’t need to be the most emotionally intelligent person, but you do need to know where your limitations in this area lie. Understanding and seeing a situation for what it is and the key stakeholders agendas is a game changer

Cuando hay una ambiente de alto estrés, existe poca paciencia, poco tiempo y comunicaciones más cortas e impersonales. Un consejo adicional que siempre es útil, es entender que existen conflictos que aparecerán de esta comunicación tan breve o transaccional. La frustración aparece cuando lo solicitado no cumple con lo que la otra persona esperaba, en un ambiente de estrés la comunicación es rápida, se dan por entendidas muchas cosas, se supone que el otro o la otra entienden. Cuando estás en un ambiente de alto estrés, tómate el tiempo de explicar bien lo que necesitas y en que plazo, te ahorrara frustraciones. En el otro sentido, si el pedido no es obvio, no temas preguntar, aclara lo que la otra persona necesita y en que plazo. Suerte