Emotional Intelligence/stupidity – Two

Carol wanted to be President of the club, but Alicia had been elected. Knowing Alicia had
recently married, Carol made sure a lot of responsibility fell on Alicia shoulders, even ensuring
that the organisation became a member of a larger one, meaning more meetings,
more work, more responsibility.

Eventually, with her marriage hanging by a thread, having to seek medical assistance
for exhaustion, Alicia was forced to step down and Carol took over.

Carol instantly delegated a lot of responsibility to various Vice Presidents, and appointed
special delegates to attend meetings on her behalf.

Any time Carol felt pressured, she’d back off. She’d cancel a meeting, or decline to
attend, citing an excuse.

Alicia was emotionally stupid. She allowed the office of President to overwhelm her.
Instead of delegating, she believed it was part of the job description to do and be
everything.

Carol was emotionally intelligent.  She never let the office overwhelm her life. She did
as much as she could comfortably do and what she couldn’t do or didn’t wish to, she
found others.

Had Alicia half of Carol’s acumen she’d never have allowed herself to be overwhelmed. 
But she never perceived what Carol was up to, and probably never will.

One of the hallmarks of emotional intelligence is to avoid stress.
To avoid being overburdened and forced into exhaustion.

Too many people allow others to dump their problems on them;  the working grandmother
who now has her daughter’s baby to mind, the man with a family to support taking in
another relative when he can barely manage what he has on his plate.

When a young child is pushed too hard by ambitious parents, burn out comes early and
is often permanent.

Emotional maturity is to know just how much you can do, and taking on no more.