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Writer's pictureAlpana Shitolé

A 14-Year-Old's Journey: Translating EQ To Leadership

Updated: Feb 14

Someone was bullied for his skin color at my school. Typically, I would ignore something like this, but I have learned about the EQ Zone (Emotionally Intelligent Zone) at Frolific, and I understand the emotional impact. I recognized that he had been pushed out of his EQ Zone into his Low Zone, and I could not ignore that. I helped him stand up to his friends who were being mean.

- Frolific Student Age 14 


Our young student's journey from recognizing emotional distress to taking action is a powerful testament to the impact of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) on leadership. In just four weeks of attending classes, the application of EQ principles transformed a potentially overlooked incident into a moment of significant personal and communal growth.


What Is EQ?

EQ stands for Emotional Quotient and it measures your Emotional Intelligence which is the ability to recognize and manage your emotions. 


Once you know how to recognize emotions in yourself, you are enabled to identify emotions in others as well. The analogy of securing your oxygen mask on an airplane before assisting others illustrates the essence of EQ. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and regulating your emotional state before you can effectively help others.


Understanding Your EQ Zone

Think of your EQ Zone as your zone of resilience, where rational decisions flourish, even amidst the ups and downs of life, because you are in a state of emotional equilibrium. But triggers, like witnessing bullying, can catapult you into the 'High Zone,' characterized by anger, or into the 'Low Zone,' marked by feeling deflated.


This image has been adapted from SEE curriculum of Emory University


Tips On How To Recognize The Three Zones:

  • Anger, frustration, or anxiety are typically signs on being in the High Zone.  

  • Being in High Zone often leads to the inability to focus, confusion, and irrational decisions

  • Sadness, fear and shame typically manifest themselves in the Low Zone. 

  • Being in Low Zone often leads to feeling demotivated, low self-esteem, and self-doubt


A Call to Action: Embrace EQ for Empathetic Leadership

Recognizing your emotional state, as it shifts across these zones, enhances your ability to discern similar patterns in others. This capacity for empathy lies at the core of leadership. 


Let's not underestimate the power of emotional intelligence in shaping compassionate leaders. Whether you're 14 or 40, it's never too late to develop your EQ and make a meaningful difference in your community.

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Pradeep Satpute
Pradeep Satpute
16. feb.

Hi

This is simplest way of explaining the importance of EQ. 3 zones described here are really important. Most of the time unknowingly we are on Auto Pilot mode and thus keep moving in these 3 zones. Self Awareness is the key to identify or locate in which zone we are right now. There are several physical and mental indication which will tell more about it.

Regards

Pradeep

Pune, India

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