5 Characteristics Emotional Intelligence
The balance and depth of emotions is critical to leading a happy and healthy life. In fact, we propose—along with many others—that your emotional intelligence, or EI, is as important, if not more, than your IQ. A person’s EI is defined as the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage emotion. It encompasses the following five characteristics and abilities:
1. Self-awareness—knowing your emotions, recognizing feelings as they occur, and discriminating between them
2. Self-regulation—handling feelings so they are relevant to the current situation and reacting appropriately; essentially, this is mood management
3. Self-motivation—using your emotions to direct yourself toward a goal, despite self-doubt, inertia, and impulsiveness
4. Empathy—recognizing feelings in others and tuning into their verbal and nonverbal cues
5. Social skill—managing relationships, such as handling interpersonal interaction, conflict resolution, and negotiations
1. Self-Awareness
Definition: Knowing one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, drives, values, and goals and their impact on others
Hallmarks: Self-confidence, realistic self-assessment, self-deprecating sense of humor, thirst for constructive criticism
Example: You recognize that you don’t perform your best in the evening hours so you make arrangements to solve problems and get work done during your best performance time
Essential Oil Support: Bergamot, Lavender, Wild Orange, Marjoram, Melissa, Frankincense, Clary Sage, Balance
2. Self-Management
Definition: Managing or knowing how to redirect disruptive emotions and impulses
Hallmarks: Trustworthiness, integrity, comfort with change and ambiguity
Example: When a family member or coworker doesn’t handle things the way you’d like, you resist the urge to scream, and instead consider why the problem occurred and explain consequences or solutions for a better outcome
Biological Factors: serotonin
Essential Oil Support: Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Wild Orange, Marjoram, Peace, Cedarwood
3. Self-Management/Motivation
Definition: Being driven to achieve for the sake of achievement
Hallmarks: Passion for work itself and challenges, an energy to improve, optimism in the face of failure
Example: You see your dōTERRA team stuck and not moving forward. Instead of feeling discouraged, you decide to learn from the challenges your team has faced and try again
Biological Factors: dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine
Essential Oil Support: Clary Sage, Roman Chamomile, Patchouli, Rosemary, Lemongrass, Intune, Motivate, and Jasmine
4. Social Awareness/Empathy
Definition: Considering others’ feelings when making decisions
Hallmarks: Expertise in attracting talented friends and coworkers into your business and having the ability to help others develop into successful leaders and sensitivity to cross-cultural differences
Example: You talk with a discouraged family member or friend and you can connect with them and motivate them when others cannot
Biological factors: autism, depression, GABA, serotonin
Essential Oil Support: Console, Peace, Balance, Frankincense, Petitgrain, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Vetiver, White Fir, Cypress, Patchouli, Helichrysum, Douglas Fir
5. Social Skill/Relationship Management
Definition: Managing relationships to move people in desired directions
Hallmarks: Effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, extensive networking, expertise in building and leading teams in the workplace
Biological factors: GABA, serotonin, depression, introversion
Example: You start a dōTERRA business and motivate others to join you in a vision of changing health care; you network and find leaders and create a profitable business that brings you joy and satisfaction
Best Wishes,
Rebecca Hintze