Understanding emotional intelligence

No one is born a great trader – you’ll have to get there by developing self-confidence and mastering your emotions.

You’ve traded and worked out your strategy – and you’re ready to take advantage of opportunities in the markets. But as many traders discover, something may stand in your way. No, it’s not market makers or high frequency trading programs – your biggest trading adversary is even more formidable and much closer to home. What you’re up against – is you.

Fear factor

Since traders work in a world of numbers, they often see themselves as clear-thinking and rational. But in fact, traders are emotional beings, and once your capital is on the line, fear of losing can influence your decisions and make you behave in ways that are anything but rational.

You may start to doubt yourself – Did I get in too early? Do I really trust this support level? – and try to second-guess your strategy. When that happens, you might take on trades you shouldn’t be in or stay on the sidelines just when you should be making your move.

Developing self-confidence

Self-confidence is the key to becoming a winning trader – you’ll need to believe in yourself and your trading plan. That might seem difficult, but keep in mind that every successful trader started out just like you.

While you can’t eliminate risk in trading, you can learn to make smarter financial decisions, by reflecting equally on your mistakes and successes, fixating on neither and moving on better informed. Greater self-awareness – central to emotional intelligence – should lead to greater self-confidence.

Stop risk, cold

Having trouble sticking to your exit plan? Use our suite of stop orders to close a trade automatically at your chosen level. Stops are a great way to take emotions out of your trading, while controlling risk.

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