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Recognizing your own emotional response in itself is not enough to display EQ. You need to be able to manage your emotions. This includes not only how you display your emotions (e.g. losing your temper, coming across as out of control, angry, etc.), but also your own internal management of the emotions. People respond differently when they are confronted with a difficult or stressful situation. People with a high competency in this area (high EQ) will remain in control of their emotions. In contrast, people who struggle in this aspect will allow these emotions to spin out of control, essentially highjacking their response. In this scenario, a person's thoughts spin out of control and he or she becomes increasingly agitated and frustrated with the situation, preventing the person from thinking clearly about solutions and strategies.

Regulating emotion is not merely a function of your personality. There are a number of coping strategies. Seeking out activities that put you into a positive frame of mind is a strategy that has been suggested by numerous experts (Salovey and Mayer 1990). This may include engaging in a sport, social activity, or more solitary activity, such as meditation.

Additionally, your surroundings can affect how you are able to regulate your emotion. It is important to regulate your choice of associates. You should surround yourself with people who are supportive and give you positive (but realistic) feedback. Of course, you must also present yourself in a way that encourages people to have a positive view. This includes acting in a professional manner, being on time, and being respectful of your colleague's time. Another interesting way of regulating your emotion is to engage in altruistic acts. This idea has been gaining more attention in recent years.

Finally, the ability to recognize that mood is temporary and under your control is vital to obtaining a mental state of emotional control. You should not seek to change your mood or suppress negative feelings. Rather, use your current mood to your advantage. In a positive state of mind, you might imagine achieving more lofty goals, while in a negative state of mind, you might be more likely to think of an alternative plan in the case these goals don't work out. Use these different moods as an opportunity for creative thinking and formulation of alternative plans. A negative feeling about a particular task may also serve to focus your attention on an area that needs attention. This can help you prioritize.