by Mitch Byers :: August 30th, 2006 :: Posted in Enhancing Your Career |
The 15 scales of Emotional Intelligence are sorted into 5 categories or realms:
The Intrapersonal Realm (How we feel about ourselves)The Interpersonal Realm (How we feel about others) |
The Adaptability RealmThe Stress Management RealmThe General Mood Realm |
Intrapersonal capacity describes the inner self. Enhanced intrapersonal capacity indicated individuals who know themselves, feel good about themselves, are in touch with their feelings, and feel positive about what they are doing in their lives. These people are able to express their feelings, and are confident in conveying their ideas and beliefs.
The ability to recognize your feelings and to differentiate between them, to know what you are feeling and why and to know what caused the feelings. Individuals with a strong sense of self-awareness recognize when they feel out of sorts, irritable, or sad, and perceive how those feeling alter their behavior in a way that may alienate others. They can also figure out what incident precipitated their feelings. The capacity to know what they’re feeling and how they are behaving allows them a degree of control over their potentially alienating behavior.
Emotional self-awareness is the foundation on which most of the other elements of emotional intelligence are built. Mastering this one overarching skill will empower you to work toward improvement in all other areas.
Assertiveness is composed of three basic components:
Assertive people are not over-controlled or shy. They are able to express their feelings without being aggressive or abusive. Assertiveness is not aggression. Assertiveness involves the ability to communicate clearly, specifically and unambiguously, while at the same time being sensitive to the needs of others and their responses.
The ability to be self-directed and self-controlled in one’s thinking and actions and to be free of emotional dependency. Independent people are self-reliant in planning and making decisions. However, they may also seek and consider other people’s opinions. Independence is the ability to function autonomously. Independent people avoid clinging to others in order to satisfy their needs. The ability to be independent rests on one’s degree of self-confidence, inner strength, and the desire to meet expectations and obligations.
The ability to respect and accept yourself as basically good, liking the way you are. Self-regard is the ability to appreciate your perceived positive aspects and possibilities as well as to accept your negative aspects and limitation and still feel good about yourself. Self-Regard is associated with general feelings of security, inner strength, self-assuredness, self-confidence and feelings of self-adequacy. People with strong self-regard feel fulfilled and satisfied with themselves.
The ability to realize your potential capacities. This component of emotional intelligence is manifested by becoming involved in pursuits, which lead to a meaningful, rich and full life. Self-actualization is an ongoing, dynamic process of striving toward the maximum development of your abilities and talents, of persistently trying to do your best and to improve yourself in general. Excitement about your interests energizes and motivates you to continue these interests.
People with well-developed interpersonal skills are described as responsible and dependable. They understand, interact, and relate well with others. They inspire trust and function well as part of a team. Interpersonal skills are considered to be one of the most important managerial competencies.
The ability to be aware of, to understand and to appreciate the feelings and thoughts of others. Empathy is being sensitive to what, how and why people feel and think the way they do. Empathy is the ability to see the world from another person’s perspective, the capacity to tune into what someone else might be thinking and feeling about a situation, regardless of how that view might differ from your own. Being empathic means being able to “emotionally read” other people. Empathetic people care about others and show interest and concern for them.
The ability to demonstrate you are a cooperative, contributing and constructive member of your social group. You will act in a responsible manner, even though you might not benefit personally, doing things for and with others, accepting others, acting in accordance with your conscience and upholding social rules. Socially responsible people have social consciousness and a basic concern for others, which is manifested by being able to take on community-oriented responsibilities. They possess interpersonal sensitivity and are able to accept others and use their talents for the good of the collective, not just the self. Components of Social Responsibility are accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, cooperation, and collaboration.
The ability to establish and maintain mutually satisfying relationships that are characterized by intimacy and by giving and receiving affection. Mutual satisfaction includes meaningful social interchanges that are potentially rewarding and enjoyable and characterized by give and take. Positive interpersonal relationship skills are characterized by sensitivity toward others. This component is associated with the desire to cultivate friendly relations with others and the ability to feel as ease and comfortable in such relations and to possess positive expectations concerning social encounters.
This realm concerns your ability to cope with environmental demands by effectively “sizing up” and flexibly responding to a wide range of difficult situations. Success in this area means you can grasp problems and devise effective solutions, deal with and resolve issues and meet conflicts within your social group and in the work place. Enhanced levels of adaptability indicate people who can easily find good ways of dealing with everyday difficulties. Adaptability is a significant attribute in professions like engineering, nursing, and medicine.
The ability to identify and define problems and then generate and implement potentially effective solutions. Problem-solving is associated with being conscientious, disciplined, methodical, and systematic in resolving problems.
Problem-solving is multi-phased and includes the ability to transition through a linear process:
Once a solution is implemented, then:
The key skill that individuals and corporations need to remain competitive is the ability to innovate, which is a form of creative problem solving.
The ability to assess the correspondence between what’s experienced and what objectively exists. Reality testing involves “tuning in” to the immediate situation, attempting to keep things in the correct perspective, and experiencing things, as they really are without excessive fantasizing or daydreaming about them. It is the capacity to see things objectively, the way they are, rather than the way we wish or fear them to be.
The emphasis is on pragmatism, objectivity, the adequacy of one’s perception and authenticating one’s ideas and thoughts. Reality testing is the ability to accurately size up the immediate situation.
Flexibility is the ability to adjust one’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior to changing situations and conditions. Flexibility allows you to adapt to unfamiliar, unpredictable, and dynamically changing circumstances.
Flexible people are agile, synergistic, and capable of reacting to change without rigidity. Flexible people are able to change their minds when evidence suggests they are mistaken. They are open to and are tolerant of different ideas and practices. Flexibility plays an important part in conflict resolution and negotiations.
This realm concerns your ability to withstand stress without caving in, falling apart, losing control or going under. Success in this area means you are usually calm, rarely impulsive and cope well under pressure. The ability to manage internal states, to regulate one’s emotions, and to control one’s impulses is important in conflict management at wok. People who have high levels of Stress Management can handle tasks that are anxiety-provoking or even involve an element of danger.
The ability to withstand adverse events, stressful situations, and strong emotions without falling apart by actively and positively coping with stress. This skill involves the ability to weather difficult situations without getting overwhelmed. Stress Tolerance includes having a repertoire of suitable responses to stressful situations. It is the capacity to be relaxed and composed and to calmly face difficulties without getting carried away by strong emotions.
People who have good stress tolerance face crises and problems rather than surrendering to the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. You are able to keep calm and maintain control. You will have an optimistic disposition toward new experiences and change.
The ability to regulate one’s emotions and to resist or delay an impulse, drive, or temptation to act. It entails a capacity for dealing with one’s aggressive impulses, being composed, and controlling hostility and irresponsible behavior. Impulse control is basically self-control and self-regulation.
Problems in impulse control are manifested by low frustration tolerance, impulsiveness, anger control problems, abusiveness, loss of self-control and explosive and unpredictable behavior.
This realm concerns the ability to enjoy life and the overall feeling of contentment. When elevated, it indicates optimistic, positive, hopeful, and cheerful individuals who know how to enjoy life. This realm is an essential element in interacting with others, and plays a motivational role in problem solving and stress tolerance. An enhanced general mood helps create an uplifting and positive atmosphere in the workplace.
The ability to look at the brighter side of life and to maintain a positive attitude even in the face of adversity. Optimism assumes a measure of hope in one’s approach to life. It is a positive approach to daily living. There is a strong connection between one’s degree of optimism and one’s ability to cope with problems.
Optimism plays an important role in overall self-motivation and is an important factor in reaching goals and coping with stress.
The ability to enjoy oneself and others, to feel satisfied with one’s life, and to have fun. Happiness combines self-satisfaction and general contentment with the ability to enjoy life. Happiness is associated with a general feeling of cheerfulness and enthusiasm.
Happy people often feel good and at ease both at home and at work and enjoy opportunities for having fun. Happiness is a barometric indicator of one’s overall degree of emotional and social intelligence and functioning.
Would you like to know more about the Bar-on EQ-i® Assessment?
Would you like to know your EQ score?
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by Mitch Byers :: August 24th, 2006 :: Posted in Enhancing Your Career |
Emotional Intelligence is often expressed as an Emotional Quotient (EQ), the measure of an individual’s Emotional Intelligence. One’s EQ can compliment their Intellectual Quotient (IQ), but there are distinct differences.
Your IQ relates to your cognitive or reasoning abilities. In contrast, your EQ captures many of your non-cognitive capabilities, or soft skills. These are the skills that help you succeed in coping with demanding pressures and awkward interpersonal predicaments.
EQ has been proven to be a powerful predictor of effective and successful performance in the workplace and other areas of life. Accumulated data on the ability of IQ to predict job performance suggest that cognitive intelligence (IQ) accounts for only 6 percent of one’s ability to succeed in the workplace. (Wagner, 1997) IQ is a rather poor predictor of occupational success.
In order to take full advantage of one’s IQ (cognitive intelligence) you must first have a healthy EQ (non-cognitive intelligence). Your “books smarts” does not provide much benefit if it is mixed with erratic or abrasive behavior. In contrast, the healthier your emotional intelligence, the greater your chances for success.
EQ has shown to be responsible for between 27 and 45 percent of job success, depending on which field was under study. (Bar-On, 1998) Clearly, EQ is a better predictor of occupational and professional performance than IQ. Average to above average scores on the EQ-i indicate an emotionally and socially healthy, well-functioning, and efficient individual.
IQ peaks at around age 17 and remains constant throughout adulthood. EQ consistently rises with age and maturity and peaks when we are in our late 40s and early 50s.
Would you like more detail on What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Would you like to know your EQ score?
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by Mitch Byers :: August 3rd, 2006 :: Posted in Selection & Hiring |
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by Mitch Byers :: August 2nd, 2006 :: Posted in Enhancing Your Career |
She mentions that “resumes are the currency of recruiting” but also reminds us that “there is nothing in there that tells us this candidate is the one. She argues that resumes are a poor branding tool because “if a candidate doesn’t grasp his or her unique value proposition, then he can’t possible convey his brand through a personal website or resume.”
A simple solution to branding is to simply “Play off of your strengths.” The problem, for most, is not know what their strengths are, much less how to market those strengths in the marketplace.
A great starting point is to understand one’s personal job competencies. Richard Boyatzis, a professor of organizational behavior defines job competency as An underlying characteristic of an employee which results in effective and/or superior performance. The key phase is “superior performance.” If a candidate can figure out which competencies help make them a superior performer, then branding becomes a cinch.
For the complete competency key and a fun exercise click on this link.
Another great resource is the book, “Now, Discover Your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton. The book comes with a unique identification number, which allows the reader to access the StrengthsFinder Profile on the Internet. You end up with your five most important strengths from a list of 34.
Branding is critical for job seekers. Candidates only have a few chances: the Resume and the Interview are the main opportunities. Cover letters, thank-you notes, follow-up calls are secondary opportunities. That is not much time to build a brand. A challenge – yes, indeed. Impossible, no, not if you have a framework with which to work.
Understanding your competencies and understanding your strengths will provide a solid framework on which to build your brand.
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by Mitch Byers :: August 2nd, 2006 :: Posted in About |
We appreciate the difficulty of the job transition. We empathize with its impact to the individual and strive to assist the individual move forward in a positive manner to satisfy their career objectives.
We are passionate about helping those requesting our services and are driven to exceed their expectations, every time.
We respect and celebrate the diversity and dignity of all individuals.
We strive to build trust through open, candid, and honest communication.
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by Mitch Byers :: August 2nd, 2006 :: Posted in About |
Our vision is for Interview RX to become the preeminent resource for individuals seeking interview and career development assistance.
Our mission to provide support and meaningful resources to individuals in job transition and to enhance the development of their professional career.
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