As we had a sold-out crowd for the emotional intelligence workshop, ran by Ann Logan from Vanguard, we wanted to share key takeaways, even if you missed it.

What even is Emotional Intelligence (EQ)?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize our own feelings and those of others, motivate ourselves, and manage emotions in ourselves and in our interpersonal relationships. Research shows that one’s emotional intelligence has a clear impact on their performance and it’s something you can grow. Increasing your emotional intelligence will not only make you a more productive and self-aware individual, but it will also create a more inclusive environment that is beneficial to the workplace.
Emotional Intelligence is broken down into 5 categories:

1. Self-Awareness – the ability to know your strengths, weaknesses, drives, values and what your impact is on others. Everyone dreads the strengths and weaknesses interview question, but now you don’t have to. Being self-aware starts with the basic understanding of getting to know yourself. Take advantage of your strengths, use them to your advantage, and use them to help motivate others. When the opportunity arises for you to shine, take it. Show your worth and share with others. Whether it’s at a high-level meeting or just one on one with a co-worker, volunteer to help and shine! Sharing your expertise can go a long way. Triggers and weaknesses aren’t always a bad thing, especially if you can recognize them. Triggers can be a person, a word, the way something is said to you, everyone has different triggers. At some point, if you haven’t already, you’ll find yourself in a tough conversation and while sometimes you see it coming, and other times it can be blind-siding. Knowing what your triggers are and being aware of them, can prevent you from having an emotional reaction.​
2. Empathy – recognizing, understanding and appreciating how other people feel. Let’s go back to that tough/conflict conversation, whether you’re the one who initiated it or not, are you listening to understand or listening to respond? Genuinely, actively listening is the big one here. Everyone needs to be heard and be validated. You do not always need to respond or question what others are saying. Listening helps you to better understand others around you and allows you to build a better rapport with them, which we’ll learn more about on key ingredient #4. When you are an active and engaged listener, you make others feel appreciated and respected, you can stop assumptions while increasing your EQ. 
3. Self-Regulation – controlling or redirecting disruptive impulses and moods. You’ve been blindsided by someone who has an issue, you’re actively listening and now they’ve set off a trigger, what’s next?  What’s your coping mechanism to stay calm? We all get in our own heads on a regular basis about anything and everything. We must stop the inner dialogue about things we cannot control and other people. Far too often, we make assumptions about other people that are generally false. This ties back to #1 and #2, stopping the inner dialogue and assumptions, continue to actively listen to understand and knowing yourself enough to know how to cope. Sometimes your self-regulation coping skill is to ask for time to digest or to think about it.
4. Social Skill/Awareness – building rapport with others to move them in desired directions. Steps 1, 2 and 3 funnels into the social side – you’ve been triggered, you’ve taken a few breaths and think you’ve handled the problem well, I guess. How do your actions effect the others around you or your team? If you’re upset about something, does everyone feel it? Building those empathetic relationships with your team opens the door to feedback, so ask for it. Stop assuming you know or that you’ll figure it out, have constructive conversations and ask, “What can I be doing better? Can you help me, help you?”
5. Motivation – personal drive to improve and achieve. This is the ultimate driver of anyone’s behavior. Finally, motivation for yourself and your team, putting all of these pieces together. Open communication with your team to learn what motivates them is extremely important but also think about the basics. Setting expectations and realistic goals is motivating for anyone. If you’re not working towards something, why are you doing it? Tell them where you’d like to see them grow and vice versa, where do they think you could be doing better?  Work together to set goals for them and for your business and keep asking for feedback.

What have we learned?
Emotional Intelligence can be grown and can boost your emotions and interpersonal relationships. Get to know yourself, ask others for help when you need it and realize you can’t control everything. Take a step back when you need to and learn to keep your cool. Not only will you feel better, but you will make everyone around you feel valued and respected.  Stop assuming, ask for feedback.

Other resources Ann shared:

• Free emotional intelligence assessment: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/ei-quiz.htm
• In-depth Emotional Intelligence assessment/book: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves
• Podcast: The Career Channel: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 episode - this was a 20 minute podcast with the author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 

1. Get Your Name Out There –Once you’re a member of your chamber, your business listing becomes live on the chamber website in the Membership Directory, which also gives you more SEO. On top of that, most chambers will do a shout out post on social media when a business joins. This is what happens just when you sign up to join your local chamber.  
As a member, you can also sponsor or speak at a chamber event and advertise on their different platforms. Opportunities range from inclusion in an email blast, printed pieces or publications, hosting an event at your location or sponsoring a large annual event. Typically, these additions have a fee associated to them, but are exclusive to members only.
 
Most chambers have different tools for members on their website that are free of charge, like a community calendar and discount/coupon page. Each chamber of commerce is unique different so check out which opportunities your chamber has to offer.  Getting on a committee is another a great way to gain visibility without spending anything, but your time. This allows you to build a deeper relationship with fellow committee members, which brings us to point #2. . .
 
2. Meet New People – We are taught at a very young age the idea of “Stranger Danger”. Unless you’re working to instill this in your children, as an adult, it’s not something you think about consciously every day, but is still very relevant. When your air conditioner breaks, you’re making a big purchase, you’re trying something new, when you need anything, where do you go? Most of us go to someone or somewhere we know and more importantly trust. Meeting people and building relationships should be a staple in your adult life.
​
Chamber events draw many crowds and industries and the number of events a single chamber hosts in a year can make your head spin. Events vary in time and location so that almost all members can attend at some point during the year. Simple networking events are typically free to members, while larger annual events come at a discounted rate the members. The more people you meet, the larger your referral, partnership and customer or client potential!
 
Taking this one step further, then just doing business with one another. Job-hopping is on the rise, especially for millennials, and average time a one employer is 4.2 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has slowly decreased each year. As a business owner or someone just on a stepping stone in their career, making connections can only help you along your journey. Whether you can attend every event or only once per year, you are enhancing your name, face and business out there, which circles back to point #1.
 
3. The Chamber is Your Source - Professionally and personally, a Chamber of Commerce is your resource for all things. Many chambers position themselves to support businesses of all different shapes and sizes. One way to do that is staying on top of current trends and offering educational workshops on different aspects of your professional life. Either learning a new skill, more about social media, business tax changes, etc. the goal is to keep you and your business moving forward successfully.
 
Your local chamber keeps a pulse on your community and can direct you where you need to go when it comes to your business. The chamber might not be your be all, end all for everything little detail, but can help you along every step and direct you accordingly. The chamber aims to keep you on the competitive edge with resources and knowledge at your fingertips.
 
Did you know, consumers are more likely to patronize and visit your business if they are aware of your chamber membership? “Fly by night” businesses do not join chambers of commerce, but trustworthy and credible businesses do. Looking for a plumber? Check the Chamber Directory. Need a new storefront sign? Check the Chamber Directory. Not sure where to dine out? Check the Chamber Directory. Need to hire a new accountant? Check the Chamber Directory. Going back to point #2, your chamber already has relationships with these member companies, so use them.
 
4. In the Loop – As mentioned in point #3, chambers of commerce keep you up-to-date on community news, what businesses are coming to town, Stay on top of your community and about what is going on at the state, federal and county levels that may impact your business, which leads us into the last and final point.
 
5. Your Business Advocate – Let’s not get too much into politics here, but priority #1 is a flourishing business climate. Most chambers do NOT endorse candidates, but will lobby for legislation that will benefit businesses. Chambers keep track of local, state and federal government and report those issues affecting businesses back to members.

What did you learn?

• EVERY chamber is different. Learn about your local chamber and JOIN!
• Using your membership is key. SHOW UP!
• The best habit you can get into is THINK CHAMBER FIRST!

 
Learn more about how the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce can be a resource for you and your business by visiting delcochamber.org or contacting a Chamber staff member at 610-565-3677.