Emotional intelligence is very critical to intra and interpersonal success. I highlighted some things that can enhance our emotion quotients the last time. This session deals with the traps of emotional intelligence taught by our lecturer.
- Pride: Pride is considering yourself better than everyone or looking down on others. One needs to be confident about himself, achievements and carriage, but if we do this to the detriment of others, it means we are proud. We are all products of different backgrounds- education, exposure etc. We will meet people who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. We must be ready to listen to them, accommodate them and think the best about them.
- Lust: This may sound personal, but lust has damaged many relationships. When people cannot tame their sexual desires, they become prey to manipulations and traps. A boss who is lusting after his subordinate will want to harass her or deny her opportunities if she says No. In many one-person businesses without structure, you have a situation where the boss will tell you, you either play a game or leave the organization. Some people have gone further from lust to harassment or rape, and they have paid dearly for it.
- Envy: If you are not contented with what you have will covet other people’s possessions. Contentment doesn’t erase drive or ambition; it only eradicates desperation. If my income can only buy a second-hand car, why do I want to drive a new SUV because others are driving it? We begin to envy those that have what we do not have. Sometimes, envy comes from talking down about people doing better than us- “He is into fraud, that is why he can afford that kind of luxury”, and this is someone you have never met or know where he works or how much he earns.
- Anger: Anger resides in the bosom of a fool. Anyone easily prone to anger is likely disgraced if he ever gets to the top. This is the best time to deal with anger when you are not yet at the top. I spoke about a few tips for managing anger in my last article.
- Sloth: “Seeth a man diligent in his work, he will stand before kings and not mere men”. Laziness can come in the form of procrastination or running entirely away from responsibilities. No person will rise and stay at the top without diligence. It is something that can be cultivated.
- Greed: Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” — Luke 12:15. While envy refers to the desire to be in another person’s situation in terms of wealth, power and success, greed refers to an excessive desire for power and wealth. A greedy person wants everything for himself and never wants to share. Nothing he has is ever enough b,ut he wants to keep accumulating.
Gluttony: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”. Any excessive intake of food or drink is termed gluttony. Do not be given to drunkenness or eating junk. You are what you eat.
