Free Online Emotional Intelligence Courses

1. Diploma in Emotional Intelligence

Can a lack of emotional intelligence (or emotional quotient, also known as EQ) hold you back in your career? Quite possibly, which is why this free course on developing your emotional intelligence via an actionable plan is so useful.

2. Develop Your Emotional Intelligence

Amping up your EI could make all aspects of your life smoother. This comprehensive course explains different models of EQ and shows you how to improve them as part of working on your personal development.

3. The Principles of Emotional Intelligence, Leadership and Coaches

Top leaders and coaches often have very high EQ, which enables them to get the best performance out of their staff or team. Designed for managers in any field, this course unpacks how different people have different ways of being led, based on their emotional needs.

The human mind is very complicated. Essentially, emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, control and express your emotions in a more positive way. It means you have the ability to handle personal and professional relationships in a more empathetic manner and to communicate your emotions - even negative ones - in a way that is constructive rather than destructive.

We all know of people who are quick to take offence, get angry, cry easily, sulk for long periods or otherwise regularly work themselves up into a ball of frustration, rage or stress. It is likely that such people have low EI or EQ because they don’t know how to perceive and manage their emotions. Sometimes social or cultural pressures play a role: men might be encouraged to demand respect or be violent; women might be expected to remain calm and not take offence in the same circumstances. As we mature, we should adjust our emotions from childhood onwards but many people seem to ‘get stuck’ at some point.

Some people develop their EI faster than others. The good news is that anyone can be better at understanding their emotions if they are willing to do so. It can be tough because you may realise you’ve been acting in a hurtful or unpleasant way to others but, if you keep learning to cope better, you will reap the rewards of feeling calmer, more in control and having others possibly respect you more and treat you better out of love, not fear.

Almost any career that involves working with other people will require you to develop your EQ, especially if you are in a managerial role. This is especially true if you are dealing with people who are vulnerable, traumatised or stressed in some way. Here are jobs that will benefit from you completing free EQ courses:

• Lawyer
• Law enforcement officer
• Doctor or nurse
• Therapist or counsellor
• Carer
• HR manager
• Teacher
• Team leader
• Life or sport coach
• Event manager
• Prison warden
• Funeral director
• Disaster management worker

Even becoming a parent or step-parent can be less daunting if you work to develop your emotional intelligence. Couples who are battling to find common ground can also find completing courses together may help them solve conflicts faster and see the other person’s point of view better. Stubbornness, insecurity, trust issues and so on can all be a result of low EQ.