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Emotional intelligence benefits workplace


Six Benefits of Emotional Intelligence at the Workplace

If you’re an HR professional, it’s likely that you already know that developing emotional intelligence isn’t much of a priority at the workplace. When it comes to screening and evaluating new candidates or preparing training, the focus tends to be on educational background, current knowledge, and hard skills, along with personality assessment results. But is that the ideal way to go about it? In this Pacific Prime article, we’ll look at six benefits of emotional intelligence at the workplace.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence describes a person’s capability to manage and control their emotions as well as the ability to control the emotions of other people. Emotionally intelligent people are able to:

  • Identify what they’re feeling
  • Know how to interpret their emotions
  • Recognize how their emotions can affect others
  • Regulate their own emotions
  • Manage other people’s emotions

While some people naturally have high EQ, it is also a skill that can be practiced and developed. Practicing emotionally intelligent behaviors helps your brain adapt to making these behaviors automatically and take the place of behaviors that are less helpful.

Where personality assessments fall short

Personality assessments tend to measure just four temperaments. The current way of thinking is to match the right temperament to the right role for the optimal chance of success. For instance, companies want their sales team to be made up of extraverts and the personality assessment can help.

However, the assessments cannot measure emotional intelligence, which means you cannot tell which are persistent versus insistent. Persistence is an ideal quality for a salesperson to have while someone who is insistent will waste time trying to sell to a person who clearly won’t buy – simply because they can’t take no for an answer.

By evaluating emotional intelligence, companies are given a closer look into a person’s ability to manage emotions, deal with stress, and recognize biases. Essentially, measuring emotional intelligence provides insight into a person’s inner workings and makes it easier to match them with tasks.

Six benefits of emotional intelligence at the office

Having a culture that is not emotionally intelligent can actually have a negative impact on productivity, performance, and absenteeism, to name a few. These negative impacts eventually lead to a breakdown in culture and ultimately have an effect on the bottom line. Some benefits of emotional intelligence at the workplace include:

Better teamwork

Employees with higher emotional intelligence naturally work better as a team for several reasons. People who are more emotionally intelligent are better at communicating than others. They are open to sharing their ideas and listening to other people’s ideas as well. Similarly, they are less likely to take complete control since they can also think of others.

Emotionally intelligent employees value their coworker’s input and ideas and are more likely to trust them as well. When they have to work in a team, they are considerate, thoughtful, and respectful, which is ideal for any employer.

Better workplace environment

A workforce that is made up of emotionally intelligent employees helps reduce stress and boost morale in the workplace. The company culture also tends to be much stronger when the office is full of staff who respect and get along with one another. What’s more, the office becomes an area where people enjoy what they do as well as enjoy the company of the people they work with.

Easier adjustments

Companies should never stay stagnant. A company is more likely to experience change when their employees are focusing on ways to improve both themselves and the company. Even though employees usually know that changes within an organization are what is best for the company, that doesn’t mean everyone will be open to it.

Employees with higher emotional intelligence, however, find it easier to adjust and tend to embrace the change and grow with the company. This personality trait also tends to be contagious, thereby having a positive effect on other employees.

Greater self-awareness

People who are emotionally intelligent know their strengths and weaknesses. They can take feedback and use it to grow and improve as a person. Managers are used to dealing with people who become defensive when they receive constructive feedback, which can lead to frustration and get in the way of productivity. Other times, employees have a hard time understanding their limitations.

People with high emotional intelligence are self-aware and therefore know what they are capable of achieving in a certain amount of time while others tend to over-promise and under-deliver.

Greater self-control

Emotionally intelligent people know how to handle difficult situations. Whether it is dealing with a superior who doesn’t like the quality of your work or a client who is unhappy, there are bound to be situations at work that are not easy to deal with. In these situations, it’s important to stay calm and avoid an emotional outburst.

People with high emotional intelligence know that acting irrationally or negatively will only cause the situation to escalate. They can practice restraint and display their emotions in a controlled manner only when it is called for.

Your company is one step ahead

Many companies have yet to realize the significance of hiring for emotional intelligence. As a result, there are many companies out there with teams that do not feel valued. Hiring emotionally intelligent talent can help your organization stand out among competitors. Another option is to incorporate EQ training in your employee wellness programs.

By focusing on each person that makes up the team, you can gain a competitive advantage over other companies who are wondering why their team members don’t get along or lack motivation.

Now that you understand the benefits of emotional intelligence at the workplace, you can take a look at your existing talent and see who displays the traits previously mentioned. You might want to think about giving them leadership roles, if they aren’t in one already. When choosing an employee to handle a project or team, fight the urge to pick the one with the most experience and try going for the one with the highest emotional intelligence instead.

Finally, update your interview process. While questions about education, experience, and technical issues are still important, think about adding questions that allow a person to show their emotional intelligence. Watch how they answer these questions and think about them when you’re choosing who to hire. By doing so, you’ll have a team that stands out from the rest in no time.

How Pacific Prime can help

International health insurance is one of the top benefits that employees look for when applying for a new job. However, there are many other benefits that can help you attract the best talent. Pacific Prime is an employee benefits brokerage that specializes in employee benefits solutions and corporate health insurance. As a global health insurance company, we can help you find the best solution for your needs and budget no matter where you are in the world.

Contact us for expert advice, free plan comparisons, or a no-obligation quote today.

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Jantra Jacobs

Senior Content Creator at Pacific Prime

Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Content Creator at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.

Latest posts by Jantra Jacobs (see all)

The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) at Work

While traits like persistence and self-discipline are key to getting ahead in the workplace, skills like EQ can often be overlooked.

You’ve probably heard a lot about IQ throughout your life. Short for intelligence quotient, IQ is what’s used to measure a person’s ability to reason, and it is often connected with how intelligent a person is perceived to be.

Emotional intelligence (EQ), on the other hand, refers to a person’s ability to recognize, use, understand, and manage their emotions in a positive way.

People who display emotional intelligence may seem composed under pressure and can understand where other people are coming from in a situation.

When you think of someone with a high EQ, they may be that friend or co-worker who seems to empathize with other people effortlessly and keeps their own emotions in check during stressful situations.

While intelligence is generally regarded as the ability to learn new things and apply wisdom to problem-solving in life, EQ is the ability to understand yourself emotionally and apply your conclusions to the world around you.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman popularized the term “emotional intelligence” during the 1990s with his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.”

In his book, Goleman outlines five key components of high EQ:

  • Self-awareness. Self-awareness relates to having an understanding of how you behave and react to situations and people and how those impact others in your life, while also understanding your own limitations.
  • Self-regulation. Managing your emotions and thinking before you react to situations, especially in difficult circumstances, is known as self-regulation.
  • Motivation. Motivation is the drive for self-growth and development.
  • Empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand others’ feelings without judgement, even when a person is different from you.
  • Social skills. Having awareness of other people and how to communicate with them by listening, engaging, and making others feel welcome to talk to you are all social skills.

What are people with high emotional intelligence like?

Everyone’s personality is different, regardless of their EQ.

However, a person with high emotional intelligence may display the five characteristics listed by Goleman more than someone with a lower EQ.

A person with a high EQ might come across as more approachable and empathetic. They may seem calm and collected during stressful or emotional times. They might also have a drive to improve and better themselves.

People with higher EQs may listen to a person’s point of view, process it, and think before responding.

While traits like creativity and optimism are thought to be important keys to success, emotional intelligence may also be associated with many benefits that could help you get a leg up in life.

According to the World Economic Forum, emotional intelligence is one of the top 10 skills needed for professional success in 2020 and beyond.

People value “success” broadly and doesn’t always translate to how much money you make. However,there may be a connection between emotional intelligence and a higher salary.

It’s common for some workplaces to give employees personality tests to help determine what roles they might be best suited for. But personality tests don’t measure EQ.

Knowing the emotional intelligence of employees can help organizations understand, to some degree, how an employee might manage their emotions and stress, as well as interact with co-workers and clients.

A person’s emotional intelligence might provide insight into which tasks and responsibilities at work are appropriate for them.

For example, a person with high EQ in the workplace might:

  • understand co-workers, empathize with them, and know how to best interact with them
  • know how to adjust to meet deadlines
  • take criticism well and improve based on feedback
  • be open to making adjustments and improving the overall workplace

Emotional intelligence and leadership

Similarly to success, there are many positive traits that might be attributed to effective leadership, like clear communication and confidence. A high EQ may also be beneficial in leadership roles, especially when working with others or on teams.

For leaders and managers, EQ can be essential for:

  • understanding and communicating with co-workers
  • motivating employees and teammates
  • ensuring co-workers and employees are engaged and interested in the work

Emotional intelligence might come naturally to some people, but that isn’t always the case for every personality type.

There are many strategies that can help strengthen EQ. With work and self-awareness, cultivating a higher EQ may be possible.

You may have to try different things before you notice a change in yourself. For many people, a combination of several methods can be most effective in improving EQ.

When upsetting or stressful situations arise, pay attention and recognize the emotions you are feeling.

Be aware of how you typically react in emotional situations. No matter how upset you may be, it’s often helpful to wait before immediately reacting.

For instance, if a friend upsets you because they keep canceling plans you’ve made, pay attention to how the situation makes you feel before responding to them. If you are mad, let time pass before sending your friend a note letting them know how hurt you are.

You can ask loved ones, family, friends, or co-workers to help evaluate your emotional intelligence. You might ask them if you seem to have the following traits:

  • empathetic
  • adaptable
  • flexible
  • cooperative

If they offer feedback, it may be beneficial to consider how you might improve your EQ.

Mindfulness, a habit of focusing on the moment rather than worrying about things that are far off or out of your control, may help with self-awareness and taking control of your emotional response.

Practicing mindfulness may also help reduce stress by keeping you grounded and better able to handle stressful or emotional situations.

Enhance your empathy

Becoming more empathetic by understanding diverse perspectives is a key facet of high EQ.

Listening to stories or consuming art and media made by people who have different life circumstances than yours can be very enriching for emotional intelligence.

Some ways to broaden your emotional horizons and build empathy might be:

  • reading articles or books
  • watching movies
  • listening to podcasts
  • appreciating art

EQ measures a person’s positive emotional response and ability to recognize and understand another’s emotions. While EQ may have been overlooked in the past, emotional intelligence is now commonly recognized as an important part of a person’s personality.

EQ can be beneficial in the workplace, especially when it comes to managing stress and working with others. High emotional intelligence may be particularly helpful for those in leadership roles who manage others.

If you feel like you may need to improve your EQ, know that you are not alone. Emotional intelligence doesn’t always come easily for every person or personality type, but cultivating higher EQ is possible.

Strategies like maintaining emotional self-awareness and enhancing empathy are a few ways you can achieve higher EQ.

Like most self-improvement strategies, you may have to try different things before you find what is most helpful for you. Often, trying multiple things together can be effective in improving EQ.

As you navigate where you stand with your own EQ, taking an emotional intelligence assessment test or reviewing an emotional and social competence inventory may be helpful before seeking support.

ᐉ Emotional intelligence and its impact on employee performance

Emotional intelligence is a good assistant in your career and personal life. Imagine a world where you couldn't tell when a friend was sad or when a colleague was angry. Psychologists call this ability emotional intelligence, and some experts suggest that it is more important for overall success in life than IQ. Emotionally intelligent candidates that Indigo Tech Recruiters finds for you will become important team players.

What is emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is the ability to understand and evaluate one's own emotions and the feelings of others. This concept appeared in the 90s after Daniel Goleman wrote the book Emotional Intelligence.

There are 4 branches, in order of increasing complexity:

  1. Perception of emotions. The first and necessary step to understanding emotions is to fully perceive them. It includes not only speech, but also nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and postures.
  2. The ability to analyze emotional reactions. Emotions can be used to analyze behavior and develop thinking. They help to respond correctly to different emotional signals of others.
  3. Understanding emotions. Signals must be interpreted correctly. If someone is happy, it is easy for a person with high EQ to understand the reasons, even if they are not openly talked about. The leader's anger as a response to work is a clear signal that the result does not meet expectations.
  4. Emotion management. Emotion regulation and adequate response to the behavior of others is a sign of the highest level of EQ.

The four branches of this model are ordered by degree of complexity. Simple processes are at low levels, while more complex processes are at high levels. The lowest levels are associated with the perception and expression of emotions. A higher level requires the ability to correctly understand and respond to different emotions.

Empathy and self-control are the two most important qualities that determine the level of EI. Without even realizing or realizing it, most of the time we rely on these qualities to interact with other people. Here are some signs of a developed EQ:

  • the ability to identify and describe people's feelings;
  • awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses;
  • the ability to forgive mistakes to yourself and others;
  • the ability to accept change;
  • a keen interest in other people;
  • showing concern for the feelings of others;
  • empathy - a feeling of empathy and concern for others;
  • accepting responsibility for the result of their behavior;
  • ability to manage emotions in difficult situations.

Emotional intelligence helps people connect with others, which is especially useful when working in teams. When posting vacancies, recruiters are increasingly listing "high level of emotional intelligence" in their list of requirements.

Why High EQ Employees Matter

EQ is defined as a set of competencies that demonstrate the ability of a person to recognize their own and others' behavior, moods and impulses, and to best manage them depending on the situation. People with high EI have better relationships with others, including their boss, colleagues, and clients.

Developed EQ helps to build relationships with people on whom relationships in the team are built. A good atmosphere leads to increased efficiency and job satisfaction.

Hay Group claims that a study of 44 Fortune 500 companies found that salespeople with a high EQ bring in 2 times more revenue than those with an average or low score. In another study, the top 10% of programmers with the highest EQ developed software 3 times faster than those with lower levels.

The behavior of people with low EQ is more likely to include outbursts of anger, rude comments, impoliteness, and moodiness. This leads to stress and burnout, as well as an unsettling atmosphere in the team. People who develop EQ skills find it easier to find a common language with others, have a good command of themselves, and are not prone to conflicts from scratch. By recruiting people with high EI, you increase the chances that all participants will rally around a common idea and become not just colleagues, but friends.

How does EQ work?

On an individual level, we make emotionally charged decisions every day. We think that Plan A is better than Plan B, and sometimes we make choices based on emotions or intuition alone. When we understand the origin and source of these emotions, especially when working in a team, we are able to separate them from logic and reason. This helps them make informed decisions and communicate better with each other.

Some industries, such as sales, require high emotional intelligence. Salespeople interact with customers on a daily basis. A person with a high EQ will analyze the situation, trying to accurately understand the client's needs and feelings. This will help to find a common language and conduct the sale professionally, without imposing anything.

Leaders and HR managers also need to have high EI in order to manage a team and analyze people's behavior.

Developed EI skills help employees:

  • use your mental abilities to get the job done, and not be influenced by emotions;
  • cope well with situations in which conflict may arise, leading to unproductive behavior;
  • predict how other people will react to a certain situation and try to find the best ways to behave.
  • maintain a friendly attitude, responsiveness;
  • better control your impulses and avoid distractions that can prevent you from achieving your goals at work and reduce efficiency.

If employees do not have a high enough EQ, this is not a reason to fire them. Emotional intelligence can be developed independently, in a team, or by attending specialized trainings.

How to develop the emotional intelligence of a team

As with any other skill, it takes time to improve EQ. To help employees do this, a company can create a culture in which employees and the manager can practice and improve emotional intelligence.

First of all, check the EQ of your team members to understand the weaknesses of each member. This will help improve the learning process and focus on developing EI competencies. What can help you better understand your team?

  • conducting surveys and tests;
  • team building games to get to know each other better;
  • Spend 15-20 minutes each day talking with the team in a group or one-on-one;
  • attend training sessions with the team.

The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Test (MSCEIT) is an ability-based test. Test-takers complete tasks designed to assess their ability to perceive, identify, and manage emotions. This is a world-famous technique that is often used to assess the EQ of job candidates.

The Emotional and Social Competence Inventory (ESCI) is another well-known way to assess the EQ of employees or candidates. It is designed to assess relevant abilities and also helps to identify leadership qualities.

Regardless of the result, you can develop EQ. Introduce your team to the concept of emotional intelligence if they haven't heard of it before. Explain its role for better performance at work, conflict management and overall human inner harmony. Lay the foundation for broadening your emotional horizons. Suggest books or articles on the topic to read. Discuss the basic principles of teamwork during team building. Attend relevant workshops with your team or organize your own.

For team interaction to be effective, the initiative must come from the leader. You cannot improve the well-being and sense of self of others without first understanding how you operate on an emotional level. As a leader, you cannot teach what you do not know yourself. Work on your own EQ to understand the feelings of others, treat them with respect, and educate them. Leaders have high EI, and it is these skills that help build an effective team.

Developing emotional intelligence not only benefits careers, but also relationships, health, and overall quality of life. In today's business world, a high level of emotional intelligence will be a strong competitive advantage over candidates who don't have it.

What is emotional intelligence in the workplace?

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is a concept that emerged in the 1990s as a topic of academic discourse and then quickly became widely used, becoming an important part of business psychology and workplace dynamics research.

Emotional intelligence is usually abbreviated as EQ (emotional quotient) by analogy with IQ (intelligence quotient). People with high EQ are always more flexible, versatile, purposeful and productive employees. EQ is no less important than professional skills and qualifications.

Simply put, emotional intelligence means the ability to understand, interpret, and manage one's own and others' emotions. You must be able to keep your head under stress, help others feel confident and understand how your behavior can affect your environment.

If IQ measures mental ability, then emotional intelligence is related to our behavior. At first, this interpretation may seem too abstract and absurd, but our mind is a kind of system that must be taken seriously. As humans, we know how to tune, improve, and manage systems to make them work as efficiently as possible. The same approach can and should be applied to our own emotional state.

A person may have all the knowledge necessary for the job, but if he cannot communicate with the members of the working group and is not able to control his own emotions, this can negatively affect the quality of work.

How to increase the level of emotional intelligence?

Everyone has emotional intelligence. To become the owner of high emotional intelligence, you just need to know how to increase its level and learn how to use it effectively.

Behavioral scientist Daniel Goleman, in his extensive work on the study and definition of emotional intelligence, identified five basic skills that need to be developed in order to increase the level of EQ:

1. Self-knowledge

The first step towards emotional intelligence is their own emotions. We all experience and express different emotional states in different ways, and the more we understand how to deal with them, the better we will understand the people around us.

It's not just about emotional cognition; self-knowledge refers to understanding the nuances of your personality, behavior and thinking. You need to understand how other people see and react to you, and how your actions affect your environment.

When you become aware of how other people perceive you, we call it social self-knowledge. This does not mean that you need to worry too much about what people think of you. It is more about the ability to impartially evaluate and take into account how others perceive you, as well as understand the reasons for such perceptions.

So, how exactly does self-knowledge happen?

You may think that emotions are only your psychic reality, but we actually experience and physically express our emotions. Let us explain what we call individual self-knowledge.

For example, when you are angry, you may feel like your blood is frozen in your veins, and when you are nervous, you may feel butterflies in your chest or tremble. When you are happy, it is incredibly easy for you and you feel a surge of strength.

If you can recognize these indicators of your physical condition and track when and why they occur, you will be better able to understand and anticipate your emotions and manage them more effectively.

Much comes down to personal exploration of one's own experiences; stop for a moment and ask yourself how you feel and what your contribution to the workflow is. If you feel disunity or misunderstanding within your team, analyze why this is happening and what your actions or statements could have led to the current situation.

Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, and try to understand how different situations can affect you or provoke emotional reactions. As you work, ask yourself if you can complete a task equally when you're upset or when you're calm, and try to understand how your mental state affects the quality and effectiveness of your work.

Intuition is very closely related to emotional intelligence. Intuition has to do with our perception of a situation. We can use our intuition to better understand how we really feel. This does not mean that we should always follow our intuition, but we should not forget about it. You should definitely take note of it and study it in order to better understand your own views and emotions.

In addition, self-knowledge means understanding your strengths and weaknesses and being able to realistically assess your capabilities. Recognizing your weaknesses is the first step to overcoming them, and acknowledging your strengths increases motivation levels and an overall sense of well-being.

2. Self-regulation

When you learn to recognize and differentiate your emotions, you can begin to control them. If you allow your emotions to get the better of you in the workplace, chances are you won't be able to use your full potential. Self-regulation means that you will not allow yourself to be influenced by external factors, but, on the contrary, will try to focus on the task at hand.

Each of us has our own views and opinions, but it is important to understand when and how to express these views and opinions in the workplace. If you are not in control of your emotions, this can lead to being seen as untrustworthy or a burden to the team. This does not mean that you should hide your feelings. Self-control is the ability to properly, professionally and consciously deal with your emotions.

How to self-regulate

Avoid impulsive decisions and rash actions. The principle "Think before you do something" is an important component of self-regulation. Think about how your actions or words may affect your environment and colleagues. Ask yourself if your way of communicating ideas is the most effective and constructive.

Self-regulation will certainly help you in your work, but the methods underlying it can and should go beyond the normal working day. Being physically active and doing things you enjoy outside of work, maintaining healthy sleep patterns, and finding a safe and healthy outlet for your feelings, such as anger or frustration, are important steps towards managing your emotions and regaining energy balance that will help you. avoid creating an unhealthy work environment.

The tools and techniques behind self-regulation can be compared to those practiced in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is designed to help us cope with our problems by changing our thought process and behavior patterns. CBT is usually used to treat mental illness and affective disorders, but its methods and techniques can certainly be used for self-regulation purposes.

Some of the basic techniques are listed below:

  • Classify your problems. If you allow a lot of small troubles to combine into one big problem, then solving it can become an overwhelming task for you.
  • Distinguish between problems you can solve and problems you can't control, and focus your efforts on what can be fixed.
  • Set aside time to solve specific problems and try not to think about problems until the time has come so as not to burden yourself with them throughout the day.
  • Practice mindfulness. Take time to focus on your breathing and separate yourself from your problems.
  • Step back and look at the problems you're facing from the outside.
  • Write down your feelings; this will help to clarify and better define uncertainties and find real solutions.

If you are upset, annoyed, or feel any overtly negative emotions, take appropriate steps to alleviate them and share your experience with your colleagues.

Practicing self-regulation will help you to better adapt to the workplace and stay focused. If you can control and prioritize emotional issues, you will be able to manage your workload and prioritize your work in the same way.

3. Motivation

People who set goals and achieve their realization for their own satisfaction have intrinsic motivation. This motivation is not based on money, reputation or career growth; its main driving force is passion and personal satisfaction.

Being conscientious about your professional responsibilities and understanding that your hard work is not fueled by money, but by personal ambition, will help you improve the quality of your work and achieve higher results. Of course, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be admired and achieve financial success, but if that's all you're working for, you may never feel truly satisfied with your professional career. You don't have to work hard just to please your boss or clients. You should strive for personal achievement through the development of emotional intelligence.

How to stay motivated to work

If you are struggling to find motivation to work, ask yourself what exactly you want from your position and profession, and keep asking yourself this question until you have a clear answer. Find out what drives you, where you see yourself in the future, and what you need to do to get there.

Set realistic yet ambitious goals that help you achieve your desires and personal goals. This way you will know how and why you are working for yourself, even if you are working for other people. Regular goal setting is a great way to create conditions for motivation and increase work efficiency.

Focus your energy on the parts of the job that you enjoy, and also try to get to the bottom of it and understand that without the part you don't like, you can't do the part you enjoy. Use the aspects of your work that you enjoy to motivate yourself to achieve results in other areas. Ask yourself why you like certain aspects and not others.

If you are experiencing dissatisfaction and burnout at work, it may be time to raise this issue with your superiors. If the work does not please you, then this is not only your problem, but also your management, so do not be afraid to address these issues openly.

Motivation is contagious; your enthusiasm, optimism and conscientiousness will be reflected in your environment and help create a favorable working environment where passion, not money, will be the main driving force.

4. Empathy

Emotional intelligence is not only the ability to understand oneself, but also an attempt to understand the emotions of other people. Don't ignore or dismiss other people's emotions or opinions that you don't agree with completely, but try to see things from their point of view. Listen to them, let them express their point of view and try to learn something for yourself from your communication. Empathy is all about conflict management in one way or another.

High emotional intelligence means the ability to learn from the mistakes of the past and admit them, as well as understand different points of view. You don't have to agree with everything your colleagues say or do, but you should always try to at least understand other people's emotions in order to help them learn to manage their emotions.

Show compassion for other members of your work group, listen to them, and respond constructively. Aggression or withdrawal will only prevent you from communicating freely and creating a comfortable working environment, which can have a very negative impact on your work and leadership qualities.

5. Social skills

The most important component of relationship management is a high level of social awareness and, in turn, emotional intelligence. Social intelligence isn't just about being friendly and using emoji (although that certainly helps, too). It is also sociability, attractiveness, openness, as well as confidence that your interlocutor feels heard and satisfied.

Do not take on the role of a passive listener during a conversation. Try not to lose interest in the process, keep eye contact, actively participate in the discussion and demonstrate that you are really ready to learn. Earn the trust of your colleagues through qualities such as a conscientious attitude to work, a sense of compassion, optimism and goodwill.

Try to learn the body language of not only your own, but also other people; developed interpersonal skills mean the ability to adequately assess the situation and understand what is appropriate and what is not, without further ado.

When it comes to empathy and social skills, it's important to remember the following:

  • Listen to your colleagues.
  • Don't interrupt people.
  • Make sure your feedback is always constructive.
  • Be open and sincere, and encourage others to do the same.
  • Learn to recognize signs of burnout at work in yourself and other team members and take appropriate action.
  • Spend time doing things together.

Communication is the key to success

A team whose members can communicate and understand each other will undoubtedly do their job more effectively. All of the above skills improve communication between you and your team.

Communication is very important, whether you work together in the same office or collaborate remotely. Methods and tools such as Dropbox Paper and screen capture , which create conditions for confidential communication and direct feedback, contribute to the development of emotional intelligence. Each of these tools will help you do your job effectively and interact with your team

Improved emotional intelligence skills help create a more productive, motivated, healthy and happy work environment. You don't have to become the best friend for every team member. It is much more important to understand what your colleagues think and how they perceive your own behavior and actions.

By working on emotional intelligence, you can prevent your emotions from negatively affecting your work or relationships with your team. This means that you know how to use your strengths and how to overcome your weaknesses.

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