Does Your Character Lack Emotional Intelligence?

Look at the following list of characteristics and see if your character suffers from any of them.

□ Poor impulse control
□ Inability to focus

□ Pessimistic

□ Disrespectful

□ General unhappiness with self

□ Aggressive

□ Fearful

□ Over-reactive

□ Lack of empathy

□ Mistrustful

□ Destructive

□ Floods with anxiety

□ Non-assertive

□ Falls apart under stress

□ Sulky

□ Seeks immediate gratification

□ Uncaring

□ Chronically sad or angry

□ Impolite, rude

□ Preoccupied with negativity

□ Passive

□ Emotionally inappropriate

□ Whiny

□ Overly sensitive to criticism

If so, he or she lacks emotional intelligence! Research has shown that a person's Intellectual Intelligence has little to do with how successful they are as much as their Emotional Intelligence (EQ). We all know people who are academically brilliant and yet are socially inept and unsuccessful. What they are missing is emotional intelligence!

So now that you know what's wrong with your character (HA! Wish it were that simple...) come back next Thursday as we discuss the four parts of emotional intelligence and how you can help bring your character through a better character arc by addressing one or more of the areas.

Let's look really quickly at the difference in men and women who have a high IQ versus men and women who have a high EQ.

(On the EQ graph, men are represented on the top, women on the bottom.)

Q4U: I will be going more in depth about this concept the next Thursday, but before then, what do you think emotional intelligence is? (And I will know if you look this up...) :-P

Don't forget: The giveaway is still going on for Angie Breidenbach's Gems of Wisdom (a great book for your writing shelf). Click here!