Are You Being Emotionally Intelligent Using Social Platforms?

Your time and energy are precious. It is so easy to make mistakes in assessing certain online connections as more meaningful and deeper than they truly are.

Widespread use of social media platforms allow us to personally and professionally connect and network with individuals and organizations for different reasons. For training professionals and coaches like myself, it is a powerful outlet to raise awareness about our personal brand, display our work and accomplishments while reaching potential new clients 24/7, almost instantaneously. However, these real advantages are not exempt from several shortcomings that are well worth to take in consideration.

First, be aware that you are your brand; consequently make an effort to represent yourself accordingly. Whether on written material, photos or akin publications, be very certain that thousands – could be millions - of people, are observing you. It is not that as a coach/trainer you’re not entitled to express your opinions, thoughts and emotions, but rather deeply reflect how those personal expressions can have great consequences on your personal and professional life. Now, there is a caveat to this, being on the side of “elegance” does not equal to compromise your values. This is precisely the kind of emotional intelligent approach that supports whom you are, how you conduct yourself and how these elements are reflected on your ultimate purpose.

Second, your time and energy are precious. It is so easy to make mistakes in assessing certain online connections as more meaningful and deeper than they truly are. Bear in mind that anybody who can access a given social platform and create a user can indeed construct any kind of alternative reality; embellish their accomplishments and even portrait a total inexistent persona or organization. Furthermore, we tend to be so invested in our work, both cognitively and emotionally, and in the desire for helping others that we could easily ended up stretching our capacity for risk tolerance, venturing towards an endeavor that may be not worth our time and energy. Here the emotionally intelligent approach facilitates us to be mindful of our own personal patterns related to the way in which we create connection with others. Developing emotional insight – understanding people and human dynamics- and data mining skills – filtering to assess important information are keen to discern pure opportunism from authentic opportunities – and real people…

Don’t get me wrong. I love to be able to reach unlimited numbers of people with a message I profoundly believe in. However, it’s through the skills that I have learned practicing emotional intelligence that I can keep my vision-and commitment to serve others- while at the same honoring my brand, my time and my energy. Of course, sometimes it goes better than others ( or I wouldn't have the need to write this piece), but... what is the journey without learning from your mistakes?

Have a terrific emotional intelligent week!

With Heart,

Fiorella Velarde, M.S, M.Ed