Page 5 - Self-Management_Lesson 2_Pre-Reading.docx

18 DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

team you will be able to identify and address any problems before they
become destructive. This includes such behaviors as:

• Being unduly influenced by others

• Foreshadowing (see below)

• Dwelling on isolated events

• Being overcritical

• Seeking to blame others

• Thinking ‘always’ or ‘never’

• Focusing on or presupposing negative feedback

• Taking on too much responsibility.

The key to developing your EQ self-management lies in your honest

appraisal of your own behavior. Once a negative form of behavior is
identified, you can take positive steps to control or eradicate it.

Many people are unduly influenced by the moods and attitudes of the
people around them. Are you aware of instances where you or a member of

your team has been influenced in this way? If so then you may need to
make a conscious effort to insulate yourself so that you retain your

objectivity in such situations.

Only a few people will have this effect on you and you need to know who

they are. You may have a personal relationship with this individual that is in
some way more profound than a normal working relationship. It can also be

someone that you respect, admire, or closely identify with.

Being aware that certain individuals have an impact on your own emotions

is the key step. Knowing they exist helps you to minimize any negative
impact it has on your own emotions by appreciating why their mood affects

you in the way it does. Using this knowledge you can then make a
conscious effort to neutralize their negative emotion and retain your

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