How Emotional Intelligence Can Empower Medical Professionals

When stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction have become part of one’s daily routine, it’s time to evaluate MINDSET health. As a dentist, Dr. Shakila Angadi found emotional intelligence to be the missing link in being a successfully happy healthcare practitioner. She now coaches healthcare professionals in breaking through their individual fears and expectations and grow their emotional resilience. As a speaker and writer, Shakila leverages her professional background to empathize and understand pressures and stresses within the profession. As a mother, wife and entrepreneur, she has applied EQ techniques to all aspects of her life and has found alignment in her happiness.  She shares her message across the nation, influencing the landscape of healthcare through emotional intelligence and leadership strategies. Whether coaching, speaking, writing, podcasting or through social media engagement, Shakila inspires professionals to grow their emotional agility and lead with purpose.  You can find her at www.theinspireddentist.com or follow her @theinspireddentist on Facebook and Instagram

“Today I am Dr. Shakila Angadi, Certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach*, dentist, mom, speaker and writer! As an Emotional Intelligence coach I help you discover the meaning of your emotions and how to utilize them to unpeel the layers of your life – revealing the BEST version of YOU. Powerful strategies, insightful assessments, helpful tools, transformational tactics, and real-life tips come together to help you discover a better life.” - Shakila Angadi - www.theinspireddentist.com

1:00 - Shakila discusses what exactly emotional intelligence is: the ability to be aware of your emotions at or during the time you are experiencing them, and using them as a guidepost to make better decisions.

1:45- Shakila shares a commonality in how men and women often complain that their partner doesn’t excel in the field of emotional intelligence. An example of how emotional intelligence plays into our everyday life is coming home after a long day and your spouse might ask you something they have already asked you a few times before. You are exhausted and this question being asked for the 10th time gets under your skin and you accidentally snap at your spouse or say something you don’t mean. Poor emotional intelligence is reacting in the moment instead of understanding that you are tired from a long day and how you feel before you get home so you are prepared to process your spouse’s question under a different lens. The ability to have the mindful moment before your response is crucial, not only in relationships, but in many facets of life.

4:30- Shakila goes over the same scenario and shares how being aware of your emotions can help. This time, you are aware that your long day has worn you down a bit and you take a moment to recognize that your spouse’s question was not intended to annoy you and they may have genuinely forgot they have asked you before. Instead of snapping, you say “Honey, I hear you, and you are right we do need paper towel, but I just need a few minutes to unwind and to center myself.”  By saying this, you are clearly communicating that you hear that person and also let them know what you’re feeling. With consistency, your partner will begin to notice when you aren’t fully prepared to answer their questions or requests and they will be more in tune with how you are feeling.

8:00- Shakila shares her story and how she started with dreams of being a dentist and changing the world. She met her (now) husband while they were both in school. Dating while both being in medical school presented its own challenges when it came to finding time to spend together, but they had no idea how busy things would get once “life” started. They were very career-oriented when this “life” happened and they were blessed with a baby boy. On top of being a new mom and the stresses that come along, Shakila bought a practice only 8 months after having her baby. At this stage in her life, being a new mom, a new practice owner, and married to someone equally as busy, Shakila began to experience emotional burnout. She often found herself questioning her own self worth. She was constantly worried that she wasn’t being a good mother, a good boss, or even a good wife. One night, she finally had a “I gotta do something.” moment. She began investing in learning about her business and what she was doing wrong. She also began to go to therapy to help her figure out things that might have hidden themselves deep inside that contributed to her low self esteem. But even after getting all the help from business consultants and her therapist, there was still something missing. Shakila sought out a life coach, and that’s when she found emotional intelligence. With a lot of hard work and patience, Shakila found herself in a space where she was not only helping herself, but inspiring others to work on their own emotional experience after only a few years. She got certified as a life coach herself and now helps other healthcare professionals elevate themselves above the emotional burnout many in the profession experience.

15:00- Shakila explains what makes medical professionals different when it comes to emotional intelligence and why they often experience unhappiness. High Achievers are always being held to the highest standards and are always so focused on the next step. They often equate where they are in their careers to how happy they should be.

20:00- Shakila shares what it’s like being in a relationship with another high achiever. Each having to constantly focus on things other than their relationship or even their son often lead to very little time spent together enjoying life. Shakila and her husband began to realize they needed to understand themselves and that their relationship needed extra care because their attention is constantly on things outside the relationship. Shakila shares a great tip: “Outsource everything you don’t want to do.” By outsourcing things that takes time away from the things you really want to do, such as grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, you create time for yourself and your relationship.

26:00- Many people often think a therapist is the same thing as a life coach. Shakila shares the differences. Therapy helped her deal with deep issues from her childhood and created an environment where she could work through them. A life coach gave her more accountability than a therapist and also gave her tools to deal with situations found in day to day life. Often times, people are seeing both a therapist and a life coach to get the best of both worlds.

29:00 Shakila shares what it’s like to be a female in the healthcare industry. There is pressure to be the typical “homemaker” mom and at the same time also put on the white coat and help patients. Patients would often ask if she missed her son while she was working. It was a hard thing to deal with at first, of course she missed her son. But sacrifices need to be made in all areas of life in order to achieve the life you want. Realizing you are not perfect makes you human.

35:00- Guy shares some great advice; When it comes to time, quality over quantity. You may not be able to spend a lot of time with your spouse or child. But when you do, make it count. Shakila agrees that even if you can spend 10 minutes a day with your spouse or child, make it count. No screens or distractions, just be present in the moment and enjoy that time together. Shakila also shares that she hopes everyone is able to put aside any reservations they may have when it comes to getting help. It’s not a sign of weakness to admit you need assistance, it’s a sign of emotional intelligence.