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.

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. 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. 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.