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How Emotional Intelligence Helps In Stressful Situations
For over thirty years we've known the local dance instructor who teaches ballet tap and jazz to children in our small community. My wife took lessons there, as did my daughter. My daughter's little girls (ages 3, 6, and 9) take lessons there now. The owner of the studio holds her annual dance recital at the local high school, and my wife and I help out during the recital. My wife works backstage making sure the various groups of performers are ready to go on stage at the right time. I help out up front, selling tickets and then I go backstage to assist in any way I can. The studio has three dance instructors who teach various age groups of children. The teacher whose group is performing stands behind the main curtain so the children can see her but the audience cannot. The instructor dances behind the curtain, acting as a role model for the kids while they perform. The 3-year olds typically steal the show. Dressed in their colorful tutu's and with their hair pulled into fancy buns or braids they look like little dolls. This year one of the dance teacher's three-year old daughter was performing for the first time. As the little girl stood in the wings, she spotted her mom and started crying. Nothing was going to get her to go on stage. The teacher held her daughter and tried to comfort her and encourage her to go on stage. But the little girl was firm. She wouldn't even go back with her group when they had finished their dance nor would she go with another mother who tried to help out. The teacher's actions for the remainder of the program where inspiring. The teacher calmly and gracefully managed to hold her clinging, crying three year old all while getting the rest of her acts on and off stage and dancing with them. She patiently, calmly and lovingly managed her daughter and the other dancers. By the end of the program, both the mom and the three-year old daughter were smiling and happy. When the recital was over, my wife and I discussed what might have occurred if the dance teacher had not managed her emotions so well. Her daughter would have continued to cry and cause a commotion if the teacher had been irritated, angry or impatient. A negative experience such as this might have caused the little girl to refuse to dance in future recitals or avoid other stage performances. Whether we strengthen or jeopardize a relationship with our family members or coworkers can often get down to a simple matter of choosing our emotions -- those we wish to express and experience. That choice can have both an immediate impact and long-term impact. The example of the dance teacher shows us how a wise choice can result in a positive experience for all. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Byron Stock, a former director of corporate education, helps people develop their Emotional Intelligence skills as a powerful tool to create resilient, high performing organizations. For almost 2 decades, Byron has focused his practice on Emotional Intelligence, offering emotional Intelligence programs, speaking, coaching, and testing services that target today's issues. |
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