Bouncing Back–Resilience and EQ (Part 2)

Resilience and EQ’s Big 3

In the previous post, we saw how the holy trinity of EQ-i elements (Self-Regard, Self-Actualization and Optimism) are also key to building resilience.

While direct developmental work can be done on these three critical EQ-i elements—with self-esteem exercises, goal training, et cetera—doing developmental work on ANY component of EQ often has the side benefit of increasing these critical three as well. So do develop work on any EQ element and Self-Regard, Self-Actualization and Optimism come along for the ride!

The following clients lack resilience, but each decides to address this deficit by focusing on some other—actually easier—EQ challenge.

Case 1: Leigh the Conflict-Avoider

Leigh was easily rattled by opposition and tended to avoid conflict, which led to negative feedback and missed opportunities. Upon taking the EQ-i, she learned she was low in Problem Solving. She decided to learn a conflict management approach that would help her to navigate the conflicts that came her way– and then to face them.

Case 2: Dave the Doormat

Dave was viewed as meek and easily led. When on projects, he rarely spoke, and his ideas were overlooked or discounted. Also lacking resilience, Dave tended to accept his bad feedback as inevitable.  He gave up. However, Dave took the EQ-i and discovered he had low scores in many areas, including Assertiveness and Independence. With some supportive prodding from his coach, Dave decided to take steps to work on his Assertiveness and Independence, knowing that any movement on these elements would be quickly noticed and professionally beneficial.

The Resilience Bottom Line

We live in a pressured, highly competitive world. There are more people than there are good jobs. The private sector wants to squeeze more productivity from its workforce while the public sector cuts and furloughs. To cope with this stress, we are each armed with emotional intelligence (EQ)—a collection of skills and behaviors to help us manage our emotions and to more effectively engage with people and activities around us.

Success goes to the resilient in this life—to those who can drive into what life throws at them and emerge successful in spite of the stress, or maybe even because of it.

The EQ-i offers a number of resilience tools, but none as important as the critical trio of Self-Regard, Self-Actualization and Optimism– a trio without which, we buckle and give up, accepting our negative circumstances, believing we deserve them.  With them, we can learn to bounce back.

OKA offers a number of tools that focus on both the measurement and effective engagement of resilience.

EQ-i

As detailed in this blog, the EQ-i is the world’s leading Emotional Intelligence tool, and OKA is one of the world’s leading trainers of this powerful resilience assessments. Click here to learn more about OKA’s EQ-i training and support tools.

HRG

The Hardiness Readiness Gauge (HRG) is a recently revised tool rooted in extensive research. Commitment, Control and Challenge–how engaged are you with these three critical pillars of resilience? To learn more about the HRG, click here.  

Pearman Personality Integrator

The Pearman is known first and foremost as a Type tool–to support (and even rival) the MBTI assessment, but one of the stand-out features of this innovative development tool is the FlexIndex, a compelling and drivingly practical approach to resilience and agility. To get more information on the Pearman, click here.

To Read part 1 of this blog, click here.