emotional intelligence- the key ingredIENT for a successful career change
If this is the first blog post you are reading for me, you might be wondering why a Brand Designer like myself is talking about career-changing. The truth is, I am passionate about the power of transferable skills and the endless possibilities they can offer. You see, I started my career as an architect but quickly realized that real-life work was vastly different from what I learned in school. So, instead of sticking to the same industry, I decided to take a step back for the last decade, landing a variety of sales, marketing, and business roles. By doing so, I acquired my own unique set of skills that I now use every day as a business owner, Brand Strategist, and Designer.
I firmly believe that by embracing change and continuously learning, anyone can build their own unique, successful, and fulfilling career. So, whether you are considering a career change or simply looking to expand your skill set, this post is for you.
What is Emotional Intelligence
Changing careers can be a daunting and stressful process that requires a significant amount of effort, time, patience, and emotional energy. In my own journey, there were several factors that contributed to my successful career switch, but the most important was undoubtedly emotional intelligence.
According to Harvard Business School, Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. The term was developed in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey and was later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman.
Emotional intelligence is generally broken down into four key competencies:
Self-awareness: Our ability to not only understand our strengths and weaknesses but also to recognize our emotions and their effect on the people around us.
Self-management: The ability to control certain impulses, manage our emotions, particularly in stressful situations, and maintain a positive outlook despite setbacks.
Social awareness: The ability to recognize others' emotions and dynamics in a room or circumstance.
Relationship management: The ability to influence, coach, and mentor others and resolve conflicts effectively.
Why is emotional intelligence essential for a career change?
When your technical skills don't quite meet the full criteria for a role, but you want to show your potential, effectively communicating what you can bring to the table is crucial. And this is where mastering emotional intelligence can really help you. Here’s how:
It helps you navigate new situations: Changing careers often means entering unfamiliar environments. A high level of emotional intelligence can help you adapt to these situations more easily by recognizing and understanding your own emotions, regulating them effectively, and responding in a productive and positive manner.
It helps you build relationships: Building relationships is crucial when starting a new career. Emotional intelligence can help you connect with your colleagues and build trust more effectively by recognizing and understanding the emotions of others, communicating more effectively, and building stronger relationships.
It helps you manage your own emotions: Going through a career change can be an emotional rollercoaster. Emotional intelligence can help you manage these emotions by recognizing your own triggers and developing healthy coping mechanisms, regulating your emotions, and staying focused on your goals.
How can you develop your emotional intelligence when making a career change?
I'm not a psychologist, and to be quite frank, I don't always have the best techniques to cope with emotions (it's a work in progress). However, there are some things I've put in place throughout my journey that might help you (take them with a pinch of salt and adapt them as you see fit to your personality):
Incorporate some mindful practices into your routine: Regardless of what this looks like for you. Remember that mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in a specific moment or action. For me, this meant taking 30 minutes a day to draw, read, or work out. For you, it might mean going for a drive, being by the ocean, meditating, or even watching something that makes you feel good- anything that brings you joy and a sense of connectivity.
This is extremely important, as it can help you become more aware of your emotions and develop a greater sense of self-awareness. So make a daily effort to incorporate it into your routine.Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from others on how you come across and how you can improve your communication and interpersonal skills. Feedback can come from many different sources: family, close friends, previous colleagues, or a manager. Anyone who can help you identify areas for improvement and develop a greater understanding of how others perceive you. In my case, I reached out to my three closest friends, my brother, three past colleagues, and my favorite previous manager. What I received from them was crucial in helping me hone in on both my strengths and weaknesses, ultimately putting me on the right path to switch careers.
Practice empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Practicing empathy can help you build stronger relationships and connect with others on a deeper level. So if this doesn't come naturally to you, pay attention any time a friend comes to you with an issue. Try to put yourself in their shoes and see things from their perspective. Then, even if you don't have the solutions they need, be there for them with comfort, whether that comes through words or a hug.
Develop healthy coping mechanisms: This is a tough one, or at least it was for me. Anything that puts us out of our comfort zone or means change can also have the tendency to move us to a tricky mental space. Personally, as much as I loved the thrill of trying something new, I experienced extremely difficult emotions when it came to the fear of failing. To counteract this, I tried to find healthy coping mechanisms that could keep me focused. This involved creating connections with others. As much as I'm an introvert, I love talking to people who have the ability to share their stories in a way that resonates. So I tried to find those people, developing my own sense of community that has cocooned me to this day.
Your coping mechanism might be something completely different, but make sure it brings you a sense of relief at the end of the day.
Last thoughts
Your path is unique and personal to you. No matter how many self-help resources you consume, no one can tell you exactly what will work for you. When I embarked on my career change journey, I struggled to find information that resonated with me without feeling like I was being told what to do. That's why I like to approach this topic in a way that gives new ideas and perspectives, more like brainstorming together.
Emotional intelligence was a crucial skill for me to master during my career change. And I am so glad I pushed myself to develop this skill, as being a business owner has its own challenges. Coping with emotions is the only way to survive the ups and downs of the journey.
If you take anything away from this article, remember this: developing your emotional intelligence can help you navigate new situations, build stronger relationships, and manage your emotions effectively. You can cultivate this essential skill by practicing mindfulness, seeking feedback, practicing empathy, and developing healthy coping mechanisms. And by doing so, you can achieve greater success in your new career.
So I hope this article provides you with the strength to pursue a new path without fear, but if you need further brainstorming or support, feel free to reach out to me via email.
