Emotional intelligence is one of the most important skills that you can possess in your personal and professional life. It is essential for success in both your personal relationships and your career.
Unfortunately, many people do not know how to identify or address low emotional intelligence. In this article, we will discuss 8 signs that you might have low emotional intelligence. If any of these signs sound familiar to you, please seek out help from a qualified professional!
What Is Low Emotional Intelligence?
Before we dive into the signs of low emotional intelligence, it is important to understand what emotional intelligence is. Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware and understand your own emotions and the emotions of others.
It also includes the ability to regulate your emotions, respond effectively to emotions in others, and create positive relationships. People with high emotional intelligence are typically successful in life, while people with low emotional intelligence often struggle.
Signs of Low Emotional Intelligence
We all know those people who are able to stay calm and in control during difficult situations. They’re the ones who make thoughtful decisions, even when emotions are running high. These people display high emotional intelligence (EI).
On the other hand, there are those of us who can’t seem to keep our cool under pressure. We might fly off the handle easily or have a hard time trusting others. If this sounds like you, then you might have low emotional intelligence. Here are eight signs that you may need to work on your emotional intelligence.
#1 – You Always Have to Be ‘Right’
Do you find yourself getting defensive when someone challenges your ideas? Do you have a hard time admitting that you’re wrong, even when it’s clear that you are? If so, then you might have low emotional intelligence.
People with high emotional intelligence are able to take feedback and use it to improve their performance. They don’t feel the need to always be right because they know that there is always room for improvement.
If you’re always needing to be right, then take a step back and try to see things from the other person’s perspective. Emotional intelligence is about being able to understand and share other people’s feelings. It’s not about being perfect.
#2 – You’re Oblivious to Other People’s Feelings
In our fast-paced and constantly connected world, it’s easy to get wrapped up in our own lives and forget about the people around us. But if you’re regularly obliviously stepping on other people’s toes without realizing it, you might have low emotional intelligence. Here are four signs that you might be missing out on other people’s feelings.
- You often don’t recognize when someone is upset or angry.
- You ignore social cues and body language.
- You have a hard time putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
- You’re quick to react without considering the consequences.
#3 – You Behave Insensitively
You may not even realize it, but you could be behaving insensitively without knowing it. If your emotional intelligence is low, then you may not be aware of how your words and actions are affecting other people. Low emotional intelligence can lead to a host of problems in your personal and professional life. Here are some signs that you might have low emotional intelligence:
- You regularly make offensive jokes.
- You tend to talk over people when they’re trying to speak.
- You’re not very good at reading other people’s emotions.
- You find it difficult to empathize with others.
- You’re not very good at handling conflict.
- You often say things without thinking about how they might affect others.
- You’re not a very good listener.
#4 – You Blame Others for Your Problems
We all know those people who never seem to take responsibility for their own actions. They always blame others for their problems, whether it’s a failed relationship or getting fired from their job. If you’re one of these people, it’s likely that your emotional intelligence is low.
It’s easy to point the finger when things go wrong, but it takes a lot more strength and maturity to own up to your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions. If you find yourself regularly blaming others, it’s a sign that you need to work on your emotional intelligence. Low emotional intelligence can lead to many problems in your life, including poor decision-making and susceptibility to manipulation by others.
#5 – You Have Poor Coping Skills
In our fast-paced, constantly-connected world, it’s easy to feel like we’re constantly under pressure. And when we’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, it can be hard to cope effectively.
If you often feel stressed out and anxious, if you find yourself reacting impulsively or emotionally instead of rationally, or if you have difficulty managing relationships effectively, you may have low emotional intelligence. These are just a few of the signs that you might need to work on your emotional intelligence skills.
If any of these sound familiar to you, it’s important to seek out help and resources so that you can learn how to better manage your emotions and relationships. With some effort, you can develop the skills you need to improve your emotional intelligence and create a more positive and fulfilling life.
#6 – You Have Emotional Outbursts
Do you find yourself losing your temper frequently? Do you have difficulty controlling your emotions when something doesn’t go your way? If you find yourself lashing out emotionally on a regular basis, it’s a sign that you need to work on your emotional intelligence.
It’s important to be able to manage your emotions in a healthy way, especially when things don’t go your way. If you’re constantly having emotional outbursts, it can damage your relationships and make it difficult to achieve your goals.
Try to take a step back when you feel yourself getting upset and take some deep breaths. It might also be helpful to journal about what’s going on in your life so that you can better understand your emotions.
#7 – You Struggle With Relationships
If you find that you’re constantly arguing with your friends or family members, it could be a sign that you have low emotional intelligence.
It’s important to be able to communicate effectively and understand the emotions of others. If you’re constantly getting into arguments with those close to you, it might be time to take a step back and reassess your communication style.
Take some time to think about how you can better communicate with those around you. It might be helpful to talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you develop your emotional intelligence skills.
#8 – You Turn Conversations Toward Yourself
We all do it from time to time. We’re having a conversation with someone and, before we know it, the discussion has turned inward, focusing on us rather than the person we’re talking to. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with sharing a little bit of ourselves with others, doing too much can actually be indicative of low emotional intelligence.
It’s important to be able to have conversations that focus on other people. If you’re always talking about yourself, it can make others feel like you’re not interested in them. Try to ask more questions and listen more than you talk.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering whether or not your emotional intelligence could use a little work, ask yourself if you identify with any of the signs we’ve outlined in this article. And if you do, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to improve your emotional intelligence.
We hope this article has given you some insights into how emotionally intelligent you are and what you can do to become even more emotionally intelligent. What is one thing that you will commit to doing in order to boost your emotional intelligence?
