How to Apply Principles for Personal Success

One morning last week, I woke up feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and sad...😫 In the past, those emotions would spiral, affect my productivity for the rest of the day; I would even get more frustrated at myself for feeling those emotions But NOW I have created a mental gym to control my emotions rather than allowing them to control me 🙌 Here are the steps I took which completely shifted my state. Try it out next time this happens to you: 1. Accept that I am feeling these emotions, but detach my identity from the emotion. Ie: I am not a sad person, I am just feeling sadness. - There is a difference, and it will pass. 2. Write down why I began to feel these emotions; what caused it? What upset me? 3. When is the appropriate time to take action on the incident that triggered the emotions? Is there anything I can do to solve it? Put a time block on your calendar indicating when you can take action. 4. Write down 5 things I'm grateful for 5. Physically move my body (Crushed my workout with a killer playlist) 6. Write my long term goals, and visualize myself accomplishing them and feeling the emotions I would experience in this process. By the end of my physical and mental gym routine, I felt inspired, joyful, and motivated to take clear action. This approach has been transformational for me. Instead of getting stuck in negative emotions or ignoring them (making them compound). ➡️ Now, I feel empowered to handle them face on, and they actually give me more insight on how to have a more positive, productive, clear plan moving forward. I'm sharing this because I want you to know you don't have to stay stuck either. We all face challenging experiences, but you can truly turn challenges into strengths. Who else has developed strategies for managing difficult emotions? Comment below, I'd love to hear about your experience and tactics! #EmotionalIntelligence #ProfessionalGrowth #Resilience

They call it "soft skills" to make you ignore it. But EQ is your hardest competitive edge. For years, I wondered why my input wasn't valued the same way others' was. Same credentials. Same experience. Different results. Then I realized: I was focused on being impressive instead of being influential. Here's what (actually) builds influence at work 💡 1) Ask what they need before offering what you know ↳ "What's your biggest concern about this?" then tailor your response 2) Create psychological safety before delivering tough news ↳ "I'm bringing this up because I respect our partnership" 3) Use silence as your secret weapon ↳ After making your point, stop talking. Let it land. 4) Address the unspoken concern first ↳ "I know some might think this is too aggressive, but here's why..." 5) Frame feedback as curiosity, not criticism ↳ "I'm curious about your experience with..." 6) Make your boundaries feel like respect, not rejection ↳ "To give this the attention it deserves, I'll need until Friday" 7) End difficult conversations with clarity, not comfort ↳ "Here's what I heard... here's what happens next" Your expertise gets you invited to conversations. Your emotional intelligence makes people listen. Which shift will you try today? -- ♻️ Repost to help your network build influence that lasts 🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for EQ strategies that create real impact

3 ways I transformed my leadership through emotional intelligence I spent years engaging with people and leading teams before I truly understood the power of EQ. Most think emotional intelligence is about being "nice" or "soft." But that's far from reality. It's about developing an internal compass that guides both decisions and relationships. 1. Self-Awareness What I used to do: Push through emotions, ignoring signals from my body and mind What I do now: Pause daily to check in with myself, understand my triggers and patterns 2. Self-Regulation What I used to do: React immediately to challenges, letting emotions drive responses What I do now: Create space for stimulus and response, choosing my actions deliberately 3. Self-Trust What I used to do: Second-guess decisions, seeking constant external validation What I do now: Listen to my intuition, knowing it's built on experience and wisdom The truth is, emotional intelligence isn't a destination - it's a practice. Like learning to ride a bike, we fall. We get up. We wobble. We find balance. Each time we practice self-awareness, we build stronger neural pathways. Each time we pause before reacting, we strengthen our emotional muscles. Each time we trust our gut, we reinforce our internal guidance system. The result? Better decisions. Stronger relationships. Clearer communication. But most importantly, you need to have deep, unshakeable trust in yourself. This isn't just about being a better leader. It's about becoming a more integrated human being. Start small - Notice one emotion today without trying to change it. That's your first step toward emotional mastery. (And yes, giving yourself a mental hug counts as practice)

One of my mentees asked me which soft skills I think entrepreneurs should pay more attention to and the practical activities I have recommended over the years (and undertook myself) to enhance them. Not an exhaustive list. No silver bullet. Life as an entrepreneur is a never-ending learning journey to improve oneself a little bit more every day. Curious if you have other suggestions. 1) Emotional Intelligence - Feedback Gathering: Reflect on emotional reactions & adjust behavior - Journaling: Document your feelings after key decisions or events - Mindfulness Meditation: Helps in recognizing & managing emotions - Engage in Role-Playing: Play out difficult scenarios with a coach or trusted colleague 2) Resilience and Grit - Set Stretch Goals: Goals that push you beyond your current capabilities - Failure Analysis: Analyze what went wrong & strategize for the future - Positive Affirmations: Remind yourself of your strengths & abilities, especially during challenging times - Regularly Read Biographies: Learn how successful entrepreneurs overcame their challenges - Join an Entrepreneur Support Group: Share challenges and solutions 3) Adaptability - Scenario Planning: Consider various future scenarios for your business - Rotate Roles: Temporarily swap job roles within your team - Continuous Learning: About new industries or technologies - Travel: Expose yourself to new cultures and environments - Attend Cross-Industry Conferences: Broaden horizons beyond your field 4) Communication Skills - Public Speaking Workshops: Enhance your ability to articulate ideas and inspire/engage teams - Write Regularly: Hone your ability to communicate complex concepts succinctly and clearly - Seek Feedback on Communication: Particularly after presentations or meetings 5) Negotiation Skills - Negotiation Workshops: improve negotiation strategies & understand different negotiation styles - Role-Play Negotiation Scenarios: With a colleague or coach - Analyze Past Negotiations: Reflect on what went well & what could be improved - Read Books on Negotiation: Regularly update yourself with new techniques - Seek Mentorship 6) Networking - Attend Industry Events - Set Regular Networking Goals: Such as meeting X new people a month - Follow-Up Practice: Send thank-you notes or emails after meetings - Join Entrepreneurial Organizations - Host Events: Establish yourself as a connector in your industry 7) Conflict Resolution - Conflict Resolution Training: Acquire techniques to mediate & resolve disputes effectively - Mediation Practice: Act as a neutral party in team disputes to find common ground & solutions - Seek Feedback on Conflict Handling: After resolving disputes 8) Active Listening - Practice Reflective Listening: Engage in conversations where you actively reflect or summarize what the other party is saying - Avoid Multitasking: During meetings or conversations. - Seek Feedback on Listening Skills: Particularly from direct reports Image by macrovector on Freepik