In a world that glorifies genius-level IQ, there’s one set of skills that often gets overlooked: emotional intelligence. These are the interpersonal skills that help you network, listen, and persuade, abilities that help you get ahead at work and build rewarding relationships at home.
But how should you go about boosting your emotional intelligence? After all, it’s not easy to measure or quantify. Even so, the five books below are sure to get you started on the right track.
Listen Like You Mean It: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection
By Ximena Vengoechea
In Listen Like You Mean It, researcher Ximena Vengoechea offers an essential listening guide for our times, revealing tried-and-true strategies honed in her own research sessions and drawn from interviews with marriage counselors, podcast hosts, life coaches, journalists, filmmakers, and other listening experts. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues
By David Bradford and Carole Robin
The instructors of the renowned Interpersonal Dynamics course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business have collected their most powerful insights into a single transformative read. Whether you’re negotiating with a potential business partner or trying to reconnect with an old friend, Connect is an ideal guide to building better, stronger relationships. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life
By Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas
It turns out that a broken funny bone doesn’t just make you a buzzkill at parties; it can also put a damper on your professional life. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a comedian, this book by Stanford professors Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas can help you use humor to improve your negotiation skills and generally perform better on the job. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication
By Fred Dust
Fred Dust is a former Senior Partner and Global Managing Director at the legendary design firm IDEO. And over time, he realized that communication itself could be designed better by using the four elements of successful exchanges: Commitment, Creative Listening, Clarity, and Context. By staying mindful of these factors, all of our conversations become both more creative and more productive. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships
By Susan McPherson, with Jackie Ashton
This book draws on McPherson’s own experience as a renowned “serial connector,” as well as the real life success stories of friends and clients. Filled with humor, humility, and wisdom, The Lost Art of Connecting is the handbook we all need to foster personal and professional relationships that blur the lines between work and play―and enrich our lives in every way. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
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