10/17/2025

Four Ways to Effectively Improve Your Emotional Competence

Develop stronger EQ by acting thoughtfully and effectively under pressure

A few years ago, I called a man whom the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suspected of having contact with a hostile foreign intelligence officer. The man's voice had a warbly sound typical of an older person, and the phone call clearly rattled him. My job was two-fold: to determine whether he knew the true identity of the foreign spy, and to assess whether his contact was legitimate.

He agreed to meet me the next day for coffee. He was initially wary, but I firmly shook his hand and gently encouraged him to share his story with me. By taking the time to listen to him and understand his perspective, I gained his trust and, eventually, his cooperation.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, label and manage emotions effectively. However, emotional competence goes a step further; it's the ability to apply that understanding in real-life situations, when stakes are high and emotions are intense.

Please select this link to read the complete article from SmartBrief.