Episode 32

Emotional intelligence needs to be talked about. It is an important topic, and it’s not going away. Valerie Sargent, president of Yvette Poole and Associates, discusses how emotional intelligence can help the multifamily community manage change.

Host(s): Jonathan Saar from Market Me Social and Mark Howell from Howl Creative Concepts

Our Special Guest: Valerie Sargent from Yvette Poole and Associates

Valerie M. Sargent (Valerie's LinkedIn) is President of Yvette Poole & Associates. A skilled Speaker, Trainer, Consultant, and EQ Executive Coach, Valerie specializes in Leasing, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Leadership. She obtained her Level 1 & 2 TalentSmart Emotional Intelligence Trainer certification in 2013, and as an Emotional Intelligence Strategist, she thrives in taking companies’ teamwork and communication to inspiring new levels.

Show Highlights

Emotional intelligence. Emotional quotient. (EI or emotional intelligence is sometimes also referred to as EQ or Emotional Quotient). How can they affect the way we handle change? This episode breaks down what EI/EQ involves and how it can help every person in our industry, both professionally and personally, when presented with change.

Key Questions/Topics Covered

What got you interested in emotional intelligence?

It started with a “wow” moment at a training conference. I listened to a leader in emotional intelligence discussing its properties and values and realized that this topic had never been addressed in the multifamily industry. This was the missing link to help with all the different volatile situations we deal with daily. I continued my education over the years and realized that I wanted to take what I had learned and use it to help people in the multifamily community.

How do you define EI?

EI is the ability to discern what is happening within ourselves and using that knowledge to manage our emotions and, therefore, our reactions to varying situations. By utilizing emotional intelligence, you can have more productive connections with others and enjoy a calmer, more satisfying personal life.

How can EQ affect your ability to change?

People, in general, are resistant to change. This is because our brains are formulated to rely on patterns, even if these patterns are not helpful. So if we don’t keep growing and learning, it makes it harder to change.

The foundation of the emotional quotient is self-awareness. To change yourself, you need to know yourself. Part of this is listening to what is going on internally and examining our reactions. Next is developing the self-management skills required to respond to change better.

Evaluating the past to create a better future

We are all affected by past experiences. How we responded then can directly affect how we react to similar situations. Thus, journaling can provide insight into what drives our behavior. First, write down how you reacted and felt during a triggering event. Then, analyze this information to see if it reminds you of something in your past. By doing this,