
There are a lot of ways to do this, but one of the easiest is to check in with yourself before hitting “send” on an email, Facebook post, tweet, or text.
Take 10 seconds to ponder these questions before you send:
- Am I feeling defensive? Reactive? Angry?
- What is my emotional state?
- Would I say this to someone in person?
- Is there a chance my tone could be misinterpreted, or that I have misinterpreted theirs?
It’s easy to compose a reactive response, forgetting that there is a human being on the other end of the screen. Emotional intelligence is a powerful muscle to build, especially with more and more interactions happening digitally.
In the long term, practicing digital emotional intelligence can set you up for more positive in-person interactions.
The Relationship Minute From The Gottman Institute, dated 23 April 2019. You can sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.