Emotional intelligence, often measured by EQ-i, is a crucial element of successful leadership. It involves recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions, navigating stress, and considering the impact of your actions on others. Achieving a high level of emotional intelligence might seem daunting unless you happen to drool, shed, and walk on all fours—traits typical of dogs, who are surprisingly adept in this area. Fear not, though; you can enhance your emotional intelligence by adopting some canine-inspired strategies and truly unleash your inner poodle!
Interpersonal Skills
Building a strong company culture requires effective collaboration and interpersonal relationships. Knowing your colleagues’ names, job titles, and quirks isn’t enough. Observe how dogs interact; they gather extensive information through their unique greeting styles, albeit ones that aren’t socially acceptable for humans. Instead, emulate their curiosity and openness in your professional interactions. Engaging genuinely with colleagues, like showing genuine interest in their perspectives during meetings, can significantly enhance teamwork.
Decision Making
Leaders must excel in problem-solving, viewing challenges as opportunities. Consider how a dog handles a stick too wide for a doorway: instead of panicking, the dog re-assesses and tries different approaches until successful. Apply this mindset to your professional challenges—maintain composure, take time to think, and persistently work through issues.
Impulse Control
Impulse control is critical for success in both personal and professional settings, yet it is a skill many adults struggle with. Dogs, however, can be trained to master this through positive reinforcement. Try implementing similar strategies for yourself, such as taking a moment to pause and think before reacting, to enhance your self-regulation.
Self-Expression
Handling conflicts directly and healthily is often overlooked in the workplace. Dogs naturally express displeasure immediately and move on quickly, demonstrating effective conflict resolution and resilience. Emulating this can improve workplace dynamics and personal relations by addressing issues promptly and forgiving quickly.
Stress Management
Flexibility is a key aspect of managing stress, especially when facing unpredictable situations. Dogs typically exhibit great flexibility—they adjust and enjoy whatever comes their way, whether it’s a different walking route or schedule changes. Learning to adapt with ease to changes and setbacks can significantly reduce stress and improve overall job performance.
By adopting these traits from our canine companions, you can enhance your emotional intelligence. If curious about how you compare, consider taking an EQ-l assessment to gauge your emotional intelligence levels.
This article originally appeared on Huff Post Mar 16, 2017
