It is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is not the opposite of intelligence; it is not the triumph of heart over head – it is the unique intersection of both. David Caruso
Improving your emotional intelligence at work is a key to career success. Emotional intelligences helps to; manage your emotions and responses to become emotionally self-aware; helps to diffuse emotionally charged situations; will strengthen your leadership skills; build healthy work relationships; and enhance your performance on the job.
The great thing about emotional intelligence is that it can always be improved upon regardless if you have a little or a lot. I recently finished E.Q Librium Unleash The Power of Your Emotional Intelligence: A Proven Path to Career Success by Yvette Bethel. Yvette does a great job of providing references, stories and real-life examples throughout the book that are easy to relate to. The strategies and steps to improve your own emotional intelligence and responses are manageable and it will be a tool that I reference frequently. E.Q. Librium is aimed for those working in office environments, current managers and future managers.
If you have ever worked in an office environment it can be easy to get caught up in the office politics that happen around you. It can be a difficult situation to navigate because if you choose not to participate in the office politics, you can feel left out and if the workplace culture is one that thrives on it, it can leave your career in a state of purgatory.
E.Q. Librium describes being ‘Politically Savvy’. Politically savvy people combine the best characteristics of the under-political and overly political types according to Brandon and Seldman (who are referenced in the book). Politically savvy people place a high value on integrity but they also understand and accept the need to engage in political games. It is about being able to play these ‘political games’ from the value of integrity. It is a balance of being able to publicize your accomplishments at work without relational manipulation and without force.
Politically savvy people seek diversity in the workplace. They also look for ways to collaborate with others instead of competing to create a win-lose situation. They focus on the goal and equally distributing the ‘power’ so everyone can achieve the goal. They treat others with respect and demonstrate empathy.
E.Q. Librium goes on to explain how overly political people create low morale environments around them and how to deal with it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that works in an office. You are bound to gain better insight to how you respond to certain situations and how to improve yourself and develop those around you.
About The Book
E.Q. Librium helps you to develop your ability to use your Emotional Quotient (EQ) to achieve self-regulation in emotionally charged situations. When you build your capacity to stabilize your emotions internally, you can better position yourself to achieve your career goals. The more you develop your skills to navigate your emotions, the more effective you will be at managing yourself, particularly when there are diverse personalities at play.
Pick up your copy on Amazon today.
About the Author
Yvette is an HR and change consultant, emotional intelligence practitioner, trainer, and author of the book EQ. Librium: Unleash the Power of Your Emotional Intelligence; A Proven Path to Career Success. She is a Fulbright Scholar with over 25 years of experience. During her tenure in the banking industry, she served in senior capacities in corporate strategy, marketing, PR, training, and human resources. Yvette Bethel can be reached at http://www.orgsoul.com/. Her book E.Q. Librium: Unleash the Power of Your Emotional Intelligence; A Proven Path to Career Success is also available at Amazon and other retailers.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Thank you for having Yvette Bethel on your site.