Intelligence should not be limited to cognitive or academic intelligence. Studies have shown that the brain cannot be a one-way street and intelligence measured by cognitive prowess alone. According to Psychologists, there are 7 types of intelligence namely:
- Linguistic intelligence is characterized by a greater ability to express yourself well both verbally and in writing. A person with linguistic intelligence has very strong awareness and an ability to easily understand the viewpoint of others.
- Logical intelligence is characterised by prowess in mathematics and logic, strong problem-solving ability.
- Kinaesthetic intelligence; characterized by ease of bodily expression. This manifests in strong coordination and motor skills usually demonstrated by Olympics and high-performance athletes
- Spatial Intelligence; characterized by a heightened ability to create, imagine and draw 2D and 3D images. Members of this group can imagine, create and see things that others consider impossible.
- Musical Intelligence; characterized by the ability to listen to sound and music and identify different patterns and notes with ease.
- Interpersonal intelligence; characterized by the ability to listen and speak but above all, know how to apply the knowledge and power to influence people.
- Intrapersonal intelligence; characterized by being deeply connected with oneself.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a cross of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. It measures our ability to perceive our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others, and to manage them in a productive and healthy way.
Speaking of Emotional Intelligence(EQ), this is fundamental to life experiences and can influence how successful we are in our relationships and careers. Here is how to improve your Emotional Intelligence:
- Hone your self-awareness skill: Practice observing how you feel and/or react to different situations at every point in time. Always make a self-assessment at the end of a day, an activity or a period.
- Study the link between your emotions and behaviour: The more you understand what triggers your behavioural impulses, the higher your EQ gets. But, as you get better at analyzing the connection between your emotions and behavioural pattern, be careful not to fall into the trap of judging yourself by attaching labels to your behaviours.
- Understand patterns in your emotional history: This is another step in developing a great knowledge of your feelings and how they are connected to your experiences. Whenever you experience a strong emotion, ask yourself when was the last time you experienced such an emotion? What led to it? What was the aftermath?
- Practice decide how to behave: You might not be able to control what emotion is triggered by certain stimuli but you can decide how to respond to it. Instead of letting your emotions overwhelm you, decide how you’re going to behave next time your feelings grow strong.