4 ways women and girls develop emotional intelligence (EI) personally and professionally?

What is EI?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and those of others. EI is important for personal and professional success, as it helps to build positive relationships, cope with stress, and solve problems.

Women and girls tend to develop emotional intelligence in different ways than men and boys, due to biological, social, and cultural factors. Some of these factors are:

• Women and girls have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes bonding and empathy, than men and boys. Oxytocin also enhances the effects of estrogen, which influences mood and emotion regulation.
• Women and girls are more likely to express their emotions verbally and nonverbally, while men and boys are more likely to suppress or hide their emotions. This can help women and girls communicate their feelings more effectively and empathize with others more easily.
• Women and girls are more exposed to emotional socialization, such as caregiving, nurturing, and emotional support, than men and boys. This can help women and girls to develop emotional skills such as compassion, empathy, and altruism.
• Women and girls face more challenges and discrimination in society than men and boys, such as gender stereotypes, sexism, harassment, and violence. This can make women and girls more resilient, adaptable, and resourceful in dealing with emotional difficulties.

These factors do not mean that women and girls are inherently better or worse at emotional intelligence than men and boys. Rather, they suggest that women and girls have different strengths and weaknesses in different aspects of emotional intelligence. For example, women and girls may be more skilled at recognizing and expressing emotions, but they may also be more prone to emotional distress or rumination. Men and boys may be more skilled at regulating and controlling emotions, but they may also be more prone to emotional detachment or aggression.

Therefore, it is important for women and girls to develop a balanced and holistic approach to emotional intelligence that takes into account their unique needs, preferences, and goals. Some strategies that can help women and girls enhance their emotional intelligence are:

• Practicing mindfulness, which is the awareness of one’s present moment experience without judgment. Mindfulness can help women and girls to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and improve emotion regulation.
• Seeking feedback from others, especially from trusted friends, family members, mentors, or coaches. Feedback can help women and girls to gain new perspectives, learn from their mistakes, and improve their performance.
• Challenging negative thoughts and beliefs, such as self-doubt, perfectionism, or imposter syndrome. Challenging negative thoughts can help women and girls to boost their self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.
• Expanding one’s emotional vocabulary, which is the range of words that one can use to describe one’s emotions,. Expanding one’s emotional vocabulary can help women and girls communicate their emotions more clearly and accurately, as well as understand the emotions of others better.
• Seeking professional help if needed, such as from a therapist, counselor, or psychologist,. Seeking professional help can help women and girls cope with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or burnout.

Emotional intelligence is not a fixed trait that one is born with or without. Rather, it is a dynamic skill that one can learn, practice, and improve throughout one’s life. By developing emotional intelligence, women and girls can enhance their personal and professional well-being, happiness, and success.