By Sharad KC

Emotional intelligence (EQ) describes a person’s ability to recognize his or her own and other people’s emotions, to understand the powerful effect of these emotions, and to use that information to guide thinking and behavior. This very quality, how we manage our emotions, has been recognized as a key to success on how we perform at work, both individually as well as in a team. Furthermore, it has become an essential tool/skill for leadership to have in developing a well-performing team.

While there are several resources on building a solid EQ, there’s no better way than the TED way. So here is a TED talk for each day of your workweek to help improve your emotional intelligence:

1. Uh-oh, sounds like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays
Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend
Do you have a case of the Mondays? Are you already feeling stressed? Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive. She suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case.

2. No feel, Tuesday
Seinfeld
They say laughter is the best medicine. What better way to relieve your stress than having a laugh watching one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.

3. You’re half way there, Wednesday
Arianna Huffington: How to succeed? Get more sleep
There is no better way to recharge your mind and body than with a good night’s sleep. In this short talk, Arianna Huffington shares a small idea that can awaken much bigger ones: the power of a good night’s sleep.

4. Throwback, Thursday
Daniel Goleman: Why aren’t we more compassionate?
In this classic TED talk, Goleman shares his insights on compassion. He wonders why we’re not more compassionate more often, one of the main factors that determine your emotional intelligence.

5. TGIF
Laura Trice: The power of saying thank you
At the end of the week, we should always be grateful to each other. In this simple talk, Dr. Laura Trice muses on the power of the magic words “thank you” — to deepen a friendship, to repair a bond, to make sure another person knows what they mean to you.

Thank You!