A lot of importance has
always been placed on Intelligence Quotient, what we refer to as someone’s IQ
level, which is to do with one’s cognitive prowess, whether it’s their reasoning
ability, decision making or problem-solving abilities. More recently, another
kind of intelligence has come to the forefront as essential for survival in the
modern world and workplace: Emotional Intelligence.
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Emotional intelligence
refers to an individual’s ability to appropriately manage and
express their feelings, while also being aware of the surrounding environment
and other people’s emotions. This does not have to be an inherited trait that
you are born with, rather it is a skill that can be learned and honed by
understanding its principles and putting them into practice.
Studies show that
individuals having high levels of emotional intelligence tend to be good at
problem-solving skills, show better outcomes at work, have higher motivation, tend
to stay calm under pressure, have deeper empathy, better communication skills,
can better handle interpersonal conflict and have stronger self-control. They
have better collaborative relationships, are more emotionally secure and
resilient, are able to respond positively to feedback, and can withstand
uncertainty and change. Daniel Goleman, who first proposed the concept,
considers emotional intelligence as the largest single predictor of
success in the workplace.
Goleman spoke about
Emotional Intelligence containing 5 key elements, which when nurtured well, can
help improve personal and professional interpersonal relationships and thus
enhance workplace productivity:
1) Self-awareness. This
refers to being able to recognize and understand your own emotions as well as
that of others, including how your action may affect your surroundings and
other people.
What you can do:
- Do not neglect your own
emotional needs: pay attention. - Identify your personal emotional
strengths and weaknesses. - Keep in mind: Mood is
transient and feelings are fleeting. This too shall pass.
2) Self-regulation.
This
element is all about expressing your emotions appropriately. They include being
flexible, adaptable and having a balanced outlook to the situation, while also
not hiding one’s own true feelings.
What you can do:
- Find ways to de-stress
from work. - When you’re agitated,
engage in grounding techniques. - Take frequent breaks to
see what you need in that moment. - Communicate assertively
at the appropriate time: don’t bottle up your feelings.
3) Motivation.
Emotionally
intelligent people feel motivated intrinsically, i.e. they don’t need external
rewards to do good work. Instead, they look for the inherent joy of the task at
hand.
What you can do:
- Find things to genuinely
like about your work. - Ask yourself often: What
is going right in this situation? Look for the positive. - Keep your creative juices
flowing by trying to find new ways to do old things.
4) Empathy.
This
involves putting oneself in the shoes of another. If someone appears to be
going through a hard time, you might treat them with extra care or check in
with them to see how you can help.
What you can do:
- Try to see things from
the other person’s perspective. - Pay heed to how you
respond to others. Be mindfully responsive, not reactive.
5) Social
Skills. Being able to interact well with others is essential.
Important social skills include active listening, verbal communication skills,
nonverbal communication skills, leadership, and persuasiveness.
What you can do:
- Be attentive to nonverbal
communication. - Offer help freely and ask
for help when necessary. - Don’t get involved in
office drama.
When it comes to
nurturing your Emotional Intelligence at work, it is important to put in the
daily effort in small ways and keep in mind the following:
- Do regular check-ins –
for yourself as well as for others. Take periodic breaks and
assess your emotional need of the moment, whether it’s 5 minutes away from
mails, hydration or a quick snack. Stay connected with your work
friends by asking them how they are doing, with the intent to listen.
- Your colleagues are part
of your team. Help each other, delegate tasks, maintain
boundaries and keep communication channels to build foundations for harmonious
interpersonal relationships at work. Try to be communicative, supportive and
accommodating of each other without crossing personal boundaries. Respect their
views even if they don’t align with yours and don’t engage in office politics.
- Feedback is your friend. Do
not be afraid to receive feedback by becoming defensive or self-critical. A
flow of honest feedback between one another helps improve the quality of the
relationship as well as work quality.
We often assume emotions
fall in the arena of personal life, but let’s not overlook that our
professional lives are by no means void of emotions. We interact with people in
our work on a regular basis. In fact, research shows that job satisfaction
levels are only about 20% related to the content of the work itself and a
whopping 80% related to the quality of the relationships at work. It isn’t hard
to see how emotional intelligence fits into this equation.
Where there are
people, there will be emotions. Experiencing them, expressing them and
regulating them appropriately is an essential life skill.