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Continue ShoppingIn the business world, approximately 90 percent of top performers also score highly on emotional intelligence tests.
Employees having a high level of emotional intelligence can make a big difference when it comes to improving productivity and profitability in the workplace. Emotionally intelligent employees and leaders also create a better, more supportive work environment for everyone on the team.
Never heard of emotional intelligence? Read on to learn more about emotional intelligence and why itās so important to encourage it in the workplace.
The term āemotional intelligenceā refers to a personās ability to recognize and understand emotions, both their own and othersā emotions. People with a high level of emotional intelligence then use their understanding and recognition to effectively communicate, make decisions, and solve problems.Ā
Not too long ago, many people viewed emotions and intelligence as two completely separate, oppositional things. Now, though, researchers have found that there are strong connections between emotions, cognitive processes, and the way peopleās feelings and moods influence their decision-making.Ā
According to Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, two of the worldās most prominent emotional intelligence researchers, emotional intelligence involves the following four levels:
This level describes oneās ability to perceive and recognize different emotions, as well as their impacts.
This level describes oneās ability to use their emotion to enhance their cognitive activities and adapt to different situations.
This level describes oneās ability to differentiate between various emotional states, their specific causes, and their specific trajectories.
This final level describes oneās ability to be open to various emotions and recognize their value in different situations. Emotional management also involves an understanding of both short- and long-term strategies for optimal emotional regulation.
There are a few different strategies that one can use to measure emotional intelligence. However, emotional intelligence assessments typically fall into one of three categories:
In these types of assessments, individuals are asked a series of questions designed to measure their ability to perceive, reason with, and understand various emotional states.
In these types of assessments, others are asked to answer questions about someone elseās emotional intelligence, specifically as it relates to their ability to perceive, reason with, and understand various emotional states.
These assessments present an individual with a variety of scenarios and ask them to respond in a way that demonstrates their emotional intelligence (or lack thereof).
When employees have high emotional intelligence (or are receiving training to help them improve their emotional intelligence), the workplace changes for the better. The following are some specific ways that emotional intelligence positively affects others in the workplace:
Have you ever made a rash decision, one that you regretted later, because you were angry or sad?Ā
Emotions absolutely affect our decision-making, which can cause us to make bad moves in business. When we work on our emotional intelligence, itās easier for us to stay in control (especially in high-pressure situations) and weigh the pros and cons of a decision before moving forward with it.
Itās easier to resolve conflicts between coworkers when everyone is emotionally intelligent (or is working on becoming more emotionally intelligent). When people can see where others are coming from, be empathic, and remain in control of their emotions during discussions, itās easier for everyone to get on the same page and prevent problems from escalating.
Some workers have a hard time handling criticism, even when itās constructive and delivered appropriately. By working on their emotional intelligence, itās easier for people to learn how to respond to criticism without taking it personally.
When everyone is working toward strengthening their emotional intelligence, itās easier for team members to work together on projects and respect othersā ideas and perspectives. Emotional intelligence allows for more empathy and understanding in all areas of oneās life, including their work life.
Emotionally intelligent people can take responsibility and be accountable for their actions and reactions.Ā
Emotionally intelligent people arenāt perfect, and they do lose control of their tempers or react poorly from time to time. However, theyāre able to identify where their reaction came from, recognize why it wasnāt appropriate, and take responsibility for the effects it may have had on others.
All workers can benefit from trying to improve their emotional intelligence scores. However, when people in leadership positions, specifically, make it a priority, theyāre able to get better at their jobs and provide better guidance to their team members.Ā
The following are some specific ways that emotional intelligence leads to improvements in leadership:
Self-aware leaders can look at themselves objectively and see how their emotions might be guiding their decision-making. Theyāre then able to shift gears and ensure theyāre making choices that are good for everyone and the company as a whole.
A leader who is constantly losing their temper, threatening their team members, and passing blame to others is not a good leader. By working on your emotional intelligence, you can avoid these behaviours and show up better for your team.
Emotionally intelligent leaders are more empathetic and understanding. They can put themselves in their employeesā shoes during difficult situations, figure out where theyāre coming from, and respond accordingly.
Emotionally intelligent leaders can work with their teams. They donāt just bark out orders and provide critical feedback. Theyāre able to connect with their workers in a more genuine way, which leads to better results, increased engagement, and improved productivity.
Working on your emotional intelligence can help you to manage your stress and the way you respond to it, too. When you improve your sense of emotional intelligence, you can handle difficult situations better and avoid overreacting or projecting your feelings onto others.
Clearly, emotional intelligence has its benefits. How does one become more emotionally intelligent, though? Here are some steps to take to improve your emotional intelligence score:
Practice identifying your emotions and the way they affect you physically and mentally (this includes your decision-making).
Practice using breathwork, journaling, and other tactics to regulate strong emotions when they start to rise.
Practice actively listening to others and paying attention to their nonverbal cues.
Practice putting yourself in othersā shoes and seeing things from their perspective.
Finally, donāt be afraid to invest in training.Ā
Thereās a lot you and your team can do on an individual level to increase emotional intelligence. However, the best way to see results in the workplace as quickly as possible is to invest in an emotional intelligence training program.
From the executive level to junior employees, everyone can benefit from being part of a workplace that values emotional intelligence.Ā
Keep the information outlined above in mind, especially the tips on increasing emotional intelligence, so you can start creating a better, more collaborative work environment for everyone on your team.
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