How’s your EQ?

EQ: Emotional Intelligence

Each week, I get calls from students or newly graduated men and women who’ve chosen the health, wellbeing and beauty arena as their career. Mostly, they ask if I conduct short courses to enhance their knowledge and skills-base (I do); but sometimes… a little gem of a question comes along! He or she will ask about Emotional Intelligence and whether it can be taught. I smile; because asking is in itself a sign that EQ is present…

EQ: what is it and can it be taught?

EQ (meaning ‘Emotional Quotient’ but more often called Emotional Intelligence) has nothing to do with how ‘brainy’ we are, how well we did at school or university. It is not about formal education at all. It’s about our ability to empathise and respond to other people. But can it be taught? The answer is; almost always.

EQ and ‘gentleness’

People with strong self-awareness are neither overly critical nor unrealistically hopeful. Rather, they are honest with themselves and gentle with others. In the workplace, they see their role as not simply task-oriented, but people-oriented. After all, who wants to visit the most prestigious salon, to be treated coldly and efficiently?

The difference is stark. Regardless of who you work for, people are in your CARE. Without care, there’s no gentleness, no emotional connection. And I have to say (not to chastise, but to be true to you as students) it cannot be faked. It is what it seems: clients feel its presence or absence and will act accordingly.

Many a client has drifted into a trusting, peaceful sleep in my salon… to be gently roused only when they have somewhere else to be.” – Saroj

Teaching EQ

To a large extent, EQ is not ‘taught’ at all. It is more a question of whether we can put our own needs aside and be quietly observant and receptive to our client’s needs (do they seem noticeably ‘down’ – quiet or unusually withdrawn? Or did they ‘bounce’ into the salon and seem to want to chat and share special events with you?).

It is our job as therapists to sense what our client needs on any given day and respond accordingly. And though some might say emotional intelligence comes with maturity… I have not always found this to be ‘rule of thumb’. Yes, formal training and maturity teaches us much. Yet, regardless of how well-versed we are in facials and manicures and many other skillsets, competence isn’t enough.

Some of us will find a mentor to guide us (that was certainly true for me!). In turn, I now offer you the same. I want you to be a truly special EQ beauty therapist!