By Steve Motenko

If you’re a boss, read Primal Leadership, by Daniel Goleman et al, to really get how critical Emotional Intelligence is to leadership – more important than any other quality.

If you’re not a boss, read Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman, to really get how critical Emotional Intelligence is in life – more important than any other quality.

Regardless of whether you’re a boss or not, read Crucial Conversations, to get some very practical strategies for how to manage relationships in ways that reduce negative emotional impacts – in work and in life.

And finally … if you’re interested in developing your own emotional intelligence, begin by asking yourself these questions twice a day – maybe at lunch and just before you leave work for the day:

• what words would I use to describe my emotional tone at this moment?
• what has contributed to that?  find a way to answer that question without blame
• what’s the healthiest thing that’s within my power to do to resolve any negative emotions I’m experiencing right now?