Identify People With Low Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional intelligence (EI) shapes our interactions, relationships, and well-being. While some people naturally excel in this area, others may struggle without realizing it. This article explores key behaviours commonly associated with low EI, offering insights into how these traits manifest in daily life and their potential impact on personal and professional relationships.

Prior to writing this article, I had published How Do Emotionally Intelligent People Operate? on February 14, 2023 which characterises the skillset that EI leaders possess during their course of leading the teams. Here, we shall do the reverse and identify those ones who somehow lack EI skills.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence

Before examining specific behaviours, it’s essential to grasp the concept of emotional intelligence (EI). In fact, this encompasses the ability to recognise, understand, and manage our emotions and understand others around us. This skillset plays a pivotal role in navigating social situations, maintaining healthy relationships, and achieving success in various settings of our lives.

1. Dealing with?Stress

People with low EI often find themselves overwhelmed by stress. When faced with pressure or unexpected changes, they may react impulsively or become paralyzed by anxiety. This difficulty in managing stress can lead to negative consequences, affecting both mental and physical health.

Remedy

People in such situations must pause and reflect i.e. adopt a routine of 5–10 minute breaks each hour to assess stress signals and emotional needs. People with low EI but sitting in senior roles must understand that leadership requires messages delivered with calmness and confidence and those who fail to do so are easily noticed and judged by people around.

2. Getting Offended?Quickly

People with low EI tend to be hypersensitive to perceived slights or criticism. Such poeple are somehow unpredictable and egoistic . They take things personally and react defensively, even when no offence was intended in the first place. This over-sensitivity can create tension in relationships and make it difficult for others to provide constructive feedback.

Remedy

The bigger issue is that the senior professionals with the inflated ego are far too often seeking glory for themselves. “Me” before the team, “Me” before the organisation or anything else for that matter. These are the individuals who are obsessed with seeking glory. This ‘ME’ notion needs to be shaken up. Once again, reflection is a must here. Let’s learn to notice how do we behave with others during our personal or professional interactions.

3. Holding Onto?Grudges

Forgiveness and moving forward is a crucial aspect of EI. Those with low EI often struggle to let go of the past experiences and grievances, allowing negative emotions to fester and potentially damage relationships. This tendency to hold grudges against people can create a toxic environment in both personal and professional spheres.

Remedy

Take the advice of Oscar Wilde : “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.” I have interacted with people who simply delete bad instances from their memory and even empty the trash bin. They purposely do so as they don’t have time to be reminded of the terrible moments of their past life. They want to learn and move on.

4. Limited Emotional Vocabulary

Since the people with low EI are troubled with limited emotional awareness that translates into limited emotional vocabulary, using vague and short expressions i.e. ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or ‘okay’ to describe their complex feelings. This limitation hinders their ability to process and communicate their emotional experiences effectively.

Remedy

In this case, let’s try and postpone immediate responses (both written and verbal) especially when troubled with emotional stability. Again, let’s take a break, stabilise and revert back when we feel that the bad emotions are controllable. Remember that emotional vocabulary comes with practice, patience and awareness.

5. Struggling To Adapt To?Change

Let’s understand that companies don’t fail because of changes in the environment, they fail because their leaders are either unwilling or incapable of dealing with the wind of change. Such top guys remain stuck in their glorious past and they are not ready to move on. Flexibility and adaptability are hallmarks of higher EI. Conversely, those with low EI often find it difficult in adjusting to new circumstances. This rigid thinking and behavior can hinder personal and professional growth and increase stress levels.

Remedy

1. Let’s try and learn new trends in human interactions;

2. Read more and attend refresher courses;

3. Surround yourself with the positive people with high energy;

4. Consider a mindfulness practice.

Key Takeaways

While these behaviors can be challenging, it’s important to remember that emotional intelligence is not one track road. With effort and practice, individuals can enhance their EI, leading to improved relationships, better mental health , and added success in both personal and professional facets of lives. I’ve personally seen and have interacted with The low EI people in quite senior roles and diagnosed that this category of people truly struggle with low esteem, lesser recognition and respect.

Last but not the least, emotional intelligence begins with self-reflection and a willingness to examine one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Seeking feedback from the trusted friends, family members, or colleagues can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement. Additionally, practicing mindfulness, learning stress management techniques, and working on communication skills can enhance emotional intelligence.

About the?Author

Muhammad Sajwani is a C-Level HR, Transformation Leader, Board Advisor, Business Coach & Organisational Consultant working in the capacity of Managing Director, Evolve HR . He is an author, columnist and a contributor who besides writing for other platforms also regularly writes at BizCatalyst 360 . He brings along 30+ years of local & international experience. He is a change catalyst specializing in unleashing the human Dreamgenius through Leadership, Creativity and Change Management. Muhammad has been instrumental in helping organizations come to terms with organizational changes like right-sizing and business process re-engineering. His innovative approach & high personal competence encourages people to not only accept change, but also to excel in it. Muhammad has diverse experience in conducting strategic & management development programs, conferences & events for organisations across sectors.