Understanding My Emotional Intelligence

Fellow Toastmasters and friends,

When was the last time you truly paused to understand your emotions?
For me, this realization came during two very different yet equally intense weeks of my life.

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Week 1 – The Pressure Cooker

As a plant manager, I had the honor—and the pressure—of commissioning a brand-new plant.
Imagine this: machines humming for the first time, deadlines looming, and a team looking at you for direction.
Every small issue felt like a mountain.
Every decision carried weight.

The stress was real. I could sense the tension in my team: tired eyes, frustrated voices, and yet, unwavering determination.

Here’s where my emotional intelligence came into play.
I had to be aware of my own stress. I had to manage it, so it wouldn’t spill over to my team.
I learned to listen more, encourage more, and celebrate small wins.
Instead of snapping at errors, I asked, “How can I help you solve this?”

By the end of that week, we did it.
The plant was operational. The team’s exhaustion turned into pride.
That success wasn’t just technical—it was emotional.
It reminded me that leadership is not about controlling people, but about managing yourself so you can inspire others.

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Week 2 – A Different Journey

Just when I thought I had learned enough about emotions, life sent me another lesson.
My wife asked me to attend our second child’s debate tournament in Johor Bahru.
It was a long 300 km drive for her, and I stayed back because of work.

On the way, she received heartbreaking news—her aunt had passed away.
She told me she had to stop at a rest area to process her emotions.
Just a few minutes, but those minutes mattered.
It was her way of managing grief before continuing the journey.

Despite the sadness, she arrived safely and supported our child, who won fourth place in the tournament!
The very next day, she drove back home.
Although we couldn’t attend the funeral in Sabah, we offered our condolences and support to the family through donations.

This experience opened my eyes to another layer of emotional intelligence: empathy.
My wife managed her emotions on the road while still being there for our child.
She reminded me that emotional strength is not about avoiding pain—it’s about moving forward while carrying it.

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Reflections on Emotional Intelligence

Through these two weeks, I understood that emotional intelligence is not just a theory.
It’s a daily practice.
It’s:

• Self-awareness – knowing what you feel, and why.

• Self-management – choosing how to react, instead of letting emotions control you.

• Empathy – feeling what others feel, and responding with care.

• Motivation – using emotions to drive positive actions.

Both at work and at home, these skills shaped my decisions, my relationships, and my growth.

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Closing

Fellow Toastmasters, emotions are powerful.
They can build or break us.
But when we understand them, they become our greatest allies.

So I ask you today:
How well do you understand your emotional intelligence?
Because when you do, you won’t just manage stress—you’ll inspire success, you’ll strengthen relationships, and you’ll find peace within yourself.

Thank you.