Identify or Perceive Emotions
The ability to accurately recognize emotions is the most basic EI skill. The better the emotional read you have on a situation, the more appropriately you can respond to it. It is difficult, if not impossible, to recover from faulty emotional data; basing actions on incorrect information is a recipe for disaster. You need to be aware of your own and others’ feelings and emotions in order to have accurate data and information about the world around you. Being aware of other's emotions is critical to building a successful workplace environment and quality interpersonal relationships. Imagine what it would be like to work with a colleague or be in a romantic relationship with someone who is oblivious to your feelings – never noticing them, never asking about them.