Reality Testing is part of the Decision Making composite, which also includes Problem Solving and Impulse Control. What is Reality Testing? Reality Testing is the capacity to remain objective by seeing things as they really are. This involves recognizing when emotions or personal bias can cause one to be less objective. Reality testing involves [...]

Social Responsibility is part of the Interpersonal composite in the Emotional Intelligence model. It is a desire and ability to get involved and contribute to your community, to society and to others in general. What is Social Responsibility? Are you actively involved in teams, groups, or your community? Do you show concern for others and [...]

Empathy is a key aspect of interpersonal relationships. Emotional empathy – whether low or high – powerfully affects either way each and every of your interpersonal relationships. What is Empathy? Are you good at “emotionally reading” others? Can you easily put yourself in some one else’s shoes? Empathy is the ability to understand and appreciate [...]

  The Interpersonal composite of the EQ-i framework is about Social Intelligence and builds on your Self-Perception and Self-Expression skills. Your internal world and how you express what is going on inside yourself combine to influence the type of interpersonal relationships that you develop.  Three competencies here – Interpersonal Relationships, Empathy and Social Responsibility. This [...]

Assertiveness is the last piece of the self-expression building block of emotional intelligence. I covered this group’s other two competencies – emotional expression and independence – in my last two posts. What is Assertiveness? Are you able to clearly state your thoughts and your needs? Do you stand up for your rights?  Can you disagree [...]

Independence is part of the self-expression building block of emotional intelligence, along with emotional expression and assertiveness. I covered emotional expression in my last post and my next post will be on assertiveness. What is Independence? Are you self-directed and self-controlled? Are you free of emotional dependency? Independence is the ability to make decisions on [...]

Self-Expression is another composite of the EQ-i framework. You can look at it as the flip side of the Self-Perception, and it is about how we choose to express to the outside world what goes on inside ourselves. Self-Expression includes three competencies: Emotional Expression, Independence and Assertiveness. This post is about Emotional Expression and I’ll [...]

  Self-Regard is part of the Self-Perception composite in the Emotional Intelligence model, along with Self-Awareness and Self-Actualization. What is Self-Regard? Do you like yourself? How accepting of yourself are you? Are you aware of your weaknesses? Self-Regard is the ability to accept yourself the way you are. It is to be ok with you [...]