Soft Skills Matter #3 – Intrapersonal skills

This is the third and final article of the series Soft Skills Matter, which (as you all know by now) focuses on the importance of soft skills.

To end this series on a high note, in this article I will talk about intrapersonal skills, such as emotional intelligence, adaptability, self-discipline and productivity.

Intrapersonal skills allow a person to use effective mental processes to succeed in relationships, whether personal or professional.

Emotional intelligence

We all have our moments of joy, anger, sadness, nervousness, calmness, among many others. It is part of the essence of the human being to have emotions. According to Daniel Goleman, a famous American psychologist, emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to manage his/her feelings so that those feelings are expressed effectively. We can then understand that it is also vital for success in the workplace. Let’s see how we can manage our emotions:

  • Being aware of the signals: Our body is a continuous resonator of emotions. It is essential to understand the signals it sends us. Knowing how to manage these signals is fundamental, as it can prevent greater problems, such as being depressed, for example.
  • Being empathetic: Sometimes we feel that no one understands us, no matter how much we explain what we feel. Instead of judging others, we should stop and reflect on ourselves. Why do we feel this way? This is a trivial question, but it is the first step to being empathetic, which means that we put ourselves in the other person’s place and realize things how they really are.
  • Doing therapy: We are in the 21st century, yet there is still a certain prejudice against therapeutic help. This is paradoxical, because it is increasingly important in the highly dynamic and competitive society in which we live. Conversations with professional therapists can be a great lever for managing our emotions.

Emotional intelligence : r/comics

Adaptability

Forrest Gump has this famous quote: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.” This is particularly true because we must be prepared for any kind of change. Instead of being upset that our plans didn’t go as planned, we must adopt a positive attitude towards these changes. Let’s see how:

  • Realizing that changes are opportunities: The primary human reaction to adversity is frustration. To avoid this feeling, it is necessary to look for advantages derived from obstacles, even if they are not easy to perceive.
  • Being confident: Having confidence in ourselves and in our qualities is fundamental to overcome the problems we face daily.
  • Learning continuously: Adaptation is simply knowing how to apply the lessons learned from previous adversities. These changes forge our character and allow us to adapt to any unexpected change.

Self-discipline

Self-discipline is a person’s ability to stay focused on the tasks that are necessary to accomplish goals. A self-disciplined person is able to stay away from distractions and not lose motivation. Let’s see how each one of us can become more self-disciplined:

  • Identifying priorities: When we want to do too many tasks at the same time, it happens that we do not finish most of them. This makes us sad, which consequently demotivates us and increases our lack of control. It is necessary to break this vicious cycle right at the beginning by prioritizing the tasks that matter the most.
  • Resting: Being tired is the first step to laziness. Our body needs to rest as much as it needs air or food to function properly. It is necessary to replenish our energies, so that we feel fit and do what we set out to do, without making the typical mistake of saying “I am tired now, I will do it later.”
  • Celebrating achievements: Our brain requires positive stimuli to recognize a task as rewarding. This motivation, that comes from achievements, make us realize that being self-disciplined worth it. Hence, the importance of celebrating all our achievements, no matter how small they may seem.

Productivity

Productivity is closely linked to the concept of high performance and the delivery of results. In the workplace, it catapults workers into job promotions, for example. Often, bonuses within companies depend on productivity. So, if you want to “get rich”, look at these tips:

  • Waking up early: Time is perhaps the most significant asset ever. So, we should try to maximize it during our work or study routines. It is important to remember that this is not at the expense of sleep. Getting a quality sleep and waking up early are the magic ingredients for getting a productive day.
  • Planning the activities: Organization is the cousin of productivity. Being able to identify the tasks that need to be done, as well as the time that each one takes, allows us to keep our focus on what is indispensable. We live in a digital age where there are many applications that can help us to be more organized and productive, such as Trello or Evernote.
  • Creating a conducive environment: The work environment plays a key role in the performance of tasks. A clean, quiet, and organized environment encourages concentration. We are also more productive when we always work in the same place, because our brain works a lot by routines, which is why changing the workplace on a regular basis can be detrimental to productivity. Finally, it is also crucial to keep all sources of distraction away from you, like your smartphone for instance.

This concludes the series of articles dedicated to soft skills.

I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also hope that it was useful for you to understand better the importance of these skills, and I hope you may implement these tips in your personal or professional lives.

And… Merry Christmas! 🎄

 

Gonçalo Sousa Ramos
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Sources:

Emotional intelligence from comics

https://blogs.sap.com/2016/05/04/12-cartoons-that-explain-why-innovation-is-so-darned-hard

https://ahseeit.com/?qa=tag/self-discipline

Soft Skills for Success