Emotional intelligence.
More often than not, we consider the quality of emotional intelligence primarily in terms of how we relate to others. When we discuss and weigh the impact and positive outcomes of high emotional intelligence, we generally do so based on the connections and relationships it allows us to foster with colleagues and other individuals in our lives.
Another notable impact, however, of high emotional intelligence, is how it enables us to employ emotional skills to help ourselves. The self-awareness, self-management, conflict management skills, empathy and compassion that we employ to foster positive relationships with others, can be used internally to allow us to counteract the physiological impact of stress. In turn, high emotional intelligence can help counteract and reduce the chances of experiencing burnout.
This Harvard Business Review article summarizes how we, as individuals, can leverage emotional intelligence in order to deal with stress, and ward off burnout. The concepts presented aren’t wholly unique, however, they are woven together concisely and provide a pragmatic overview of some of the most basic strategies we can employ to help ourselves through stressful times.
