You're struggling to connect with your colleagues. What can you do to improve your emotional intelligence?

My personal experince of connecting with people has always started with listening and empathizing with the other person. Eventually a trust is built and you find yourself to be more comfortable and sometimes if not always expressing your mind to the other person.

Emotions are something we cannot easily understand. The reason why we behave the way we do and stuff like that. Asking feedback from trusted friends can easily help you understand how you have changed emotions wise, because your trusted friends can see you more than you do, although they might not know about your emotions.but it's a good way to know how to start to improve emotionally

Sometimes we are placed with colleagues who we have little in common with or whose communication styles clash with our preferred styles, which leads to miscommunication or conflicts. It is important to find the roots of the communication conflicts, assess the preferred communication styles, and resolve them in whichever way is suitable to resolve the problem or come to a compromise. By understanding yourself and the other party, better communication can be achieved.

Help them, and deliver value for them. Try to check the possibility to help them reach their goals. And then you will be involved

Emotional Intelligence is an important aspect we should not joke with, we should take Emotional Intelligence Test, and ask mentors and trusted family and friends for a feedback. I believe asking a strict and truthful subordinate too should help.

Some ways to get started- 1. Introspection. 2. Ask others for feedback. 3. Personal Analysis. 4. Understand your imotions. 5. Continue to give time to yourself.

I always say this - we humans have many layers and one needs to mindfully work to peel the layers one by one (like onions!). Some things that I have seen work for most people: 1. Identify emotions and the intensity of the emotion, along with mindfully reflecting what caused these emotions 2. Introspect on what values are important to you, what are your passions, what brings you joy and your talents. 3. In addition to journaling and other mindful practice mentioned above, gather feedback and data points on how you come across on your communication, stress management and interpersonal skills.

Make efforts to know and understand your colleagues along with Enhancing your Listening Skills by Listening actively and attentively. also be Mindfulness.

Breathing is the key. I was looking for a way to cope with difficult situations at work, and I found some strategies: - Chewing gum helped me to avoid saying the first thing that came to my mind. Instead of blurting out something, I paused and listened to my second or third thought, then I used them to answer. Then, I improved it even more. I started to breathe deeply when I found myself talking with partners (bosses and co-workers). In the end, breathing is the key to improving your emotional intelligence.

A great way to manage "difficult" emotions is to avoid labeling them as good or bad and instead, allow yourself to feel whatever you're feeling without judgement. Then, get curious as to why you feel that way.

Empathy. When it comes to developing your EQ, understanding the other person’s needs, mood, emotions and their perspective gives YOU perspective. It allows you to deepen your connection with that person. Makes you more likely to have a meaningful relationship in work—or your personal life.

I find emotional intelligence to be a fascinating skill because it tends to blossom from how individuals have grown up - how they’ve been taught to interact, social circles, etc. Empathy is built when you try to understand a different, and sometimes conflicting, perspective by putting yourself in the other persons shoes. This means constantly taking 2 steps back when you might disagree and considering what factors led this person to say, do, or feel something. Having a genuine interest in getting to know individuals of diverse backgrounds, such as their work relationships, personal hardships, etc. can really unlock new perspectives and develop empathy.

1. Go beyond what you know, where you are challenged. It gives you deeper understanding of life can be in different places & situations and enhances your empathy. 2. Read literature. I had done my masters in English literature, purely out of my love for literature. I didn’t realise if then, I know now it can help explore broader range of human behaviour & emotions and thus more empathy. 3. Travel. Explore. Be curious. It will broaden your perspective and make you appreciate differences, make you more empathetic.

Active listening is really key here. This means thinking about what the other person is saying and seeking to understand, not just thinking about what you're going to say next. Consider restating what they said to ensure you understand.

One of the things I learnt early on was to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and ask yourself what would you do if you were the other person. That’s a first step to start understanding the perspective of someone else. Then you can get more clarity by getting more information by asking clarification, understanding what is the other person looking for. Is it opinion, sounding board or something else.

I think emotions has to be manipulated from person to person Reflect the one would like to see you If your colleague is an individual player then always admit and address with “I” or a team player then “we” Positive approach is important hence inner motivation is also required in some situations Think and act wisely

I use the 3 steps: Receive an emotion. Allow yourself to feel & process. Pause & Reflect - to understand what caused this emotion and how can you manage this emotion to let it affect an outcome. Respond after reflection!

'To manage your emotions, you must be able to recognize, understand and be aware of when they are happening.' The more aware of how you're feeling, the more impact it has on your behaviour and decision-making. On a regular, I practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, to be present, which reduces the influence of negative emotions. I also listen to music when I feel frustrated and irritable; it motivates me and brings me back to focus. When dealing with conflict, I talk to the other persons involved. If the conversation is not going well at the present moment, I take a step back and do some breathing exercises. When I feel I am in a more calmer place, I go back and have the conversation.

I think emotions has to be manipulated from person to person Reflect the one would like to see you If your colleague is an individual player then always admit and address with “I” or a team player then “we” Positive approach is important hence inner motivation is also required in some situations Think and act wisely

It’s always about managing your emotions and it always has been. There’s no single more important thing as in self-control on. When you lose self-control, you have lost self-awareness. When you lose self-awareness, you cannot go any further because you’re like a ship without a rudder. You couldn’t go anywhere if you wanted to!

Engaging in new territories and foreign situations can be a powerful catalyst for raising Emotional Intelligence. When individuals immerse themselves in unfamiliar environments, they are confronted with diverse challenges that foster the development of essential emotional skills. Exploring new territories fosters adaptability, resilience, and empathy by exposing individuals to diverse cultures and perspectives. Confronting biases, navigating unfamiliar situations, and collaborating across cultures enhance self-awareness, self-regulation, and social intelligence. So, embrace discomfort!

Two critical factors to consider when attempting to connect interpersonally with colleagues is that everyone is at different levels of emotional intelligence and incompatibilities will occur no matter how much effort is put towards minimizing or eliminating them completely, especially in reflecting on how you can better this type of situation. Being genuine and confident, developing resilience against the odds, and self-control are key characteristics that provide a way to manage through these difficult instances in preparation for the ones to come. Company culture and employee behavior are indicative of leadership's values, priorities, and deficits. Be aware of your reach in seeking a resolution. Know when to backdown. Know when to leave.

To boost emotional intelligence with colleagues: 1. Self-awareness:Reflect on your emotions. 2. Empathy:Understand others' perspectives. 3. Active listening:Validate colleagues' feelings. 4. Manage emotions:Control reactions in challenging situations. 5. Effective communication: Express thoughts and emotions clearly. 6. Collaboration:Foster teamwork and cooperation. 7. Adaptability:Embrace change with a positive mindset. 8. Conflict resolution:Manage conflicts diplomatically for win-win solutions.

Imagine you’re working on a team project, and there’s a colleague who seems distant or unengaged. Take a moment to reflect on their perspective. Consider reaching out with a genuine inquiry about their thoughts on the project or even unrelated matters. By actively listening to their responses and showing empathy, you create a space for open communication. This simple yet mindful approach helps bridge the gap, fostering a more connected and collaborative environment.

Start with yourself before assessing the atmosphere or culture. If you do not have a safe space to process your struggles find a professional who can advise and listen. Healthy people see healthy environments. Make sure you are taking care of yourself then focus on where the symptoms to find what is behind the behaviors or perception of being distant with colleagues.