When we talk about emotional intelligence (EI), we are referring to the capacity to control one’s own emotions and grasp the emotions of others. It is an ability that allows a person to reason, function, and regulate emotions, according to psychologist Daniel Goleman.
It is something everyone possesses in varying degrees.
As for the importance of its development, it is about being able to handle what life throws at us, whether it be at home, at the office, or in the community.
In the corporate world, emotional intelligence is an essential competency that helps an individual succeed. The following are five pillars of emotional intelligence, based on Daniel Goleman’s research, and how they help you succeed in the workplace.
1. Empathy
It is the ability to empathize with others’ feelings, worries, and points of view and connect emotionally with them.
An ability to anticipate other people’s demands and emotions is critical when dealing with internal and external stakeholders and consumers alike.
Managers nowadays must be emotionally astute and intellectual to put together various teams that can use each other’s distinct viewpoints and skills.
It is essential to have a strong sense of empathy with the views of others to find solutions to issues and come up with new ideas.
Team cohesion necessitates a high level of empathy as well. Taking the time to notice and respond to the emotional needs of your coworkers creates a positive work environment.
2. Self-Awareness
Being self-aware means recognizing and comprehending how one’s ideas and actions are influenced by one’s thoughts and feelings, emotional triggers, strengths, and shortcomings.
Make sure to take some time for self-reflection if you’re feeling irritated or unmotivated at work, for example. You should also analyze why you’re feeling this way.
With a greater understanding of what’s going on, you’ll be better equipped to take appropriate action, such as putting your hand up to take on extra work that may excite you or finding constructive methods to cope with a problematic coworker.
3. Self-Management
Self-management is the capacity to control one’s emotions based on self-awareness.
Anger, stress, and other unpleasant emotions are familiar to everyone – even those with high EQ – but self-management is the capacity to manage these feelings rather than let them rule you.
This might include a delay in responding to particularly stressful or violent circumstances.
If you decide to sleep on that angry email or phone conversation, you will be able to respond more deliberately and clearly, rather than reacting on the spur of the moment.
In addition to affecting the people around you, destructive emotions and impulsive behaviour can negatively impact your well-being.
4. Relationship Management
One must have strong interpersonal skills to manage relationships with colleagues successfully.
This is about the importance of trusting and being trusted in a team.
An excellent manager can motivate, mentor and develop their team members, which significantly impacts the team’s performance and productivity.
5. Motivation
We take action because we are motivated to do so and checking in with our motivations is what keeps us going in the face of adversity.
It is the risk-averse (rather than problem solvers) and worried people with poor motivation who are most prone to give up and quit.
Negative attitudes toward project goals and responsibilities may result from their lack of drive, hurting team morale and productivity.
Motivated by ‘success’ and performing something they are proud of, the other group is more likely to ask for feedback, track their development, push their limits and attempt to enhance their abilities, knowledge, and output over time.
It’s not hard to understand why highly motivated individuals are valuable to any team.
Conclusion
As you may have guessed, emotional intelligence isn’t just about happiness and being nice—it’s about how you think, how you act, and how you manage yourself and your relationships with others.
It is a must-have for any workplace in today’s competitive environment.
By taking the time to understand better how your emotions impact you and the people around you, you will be able to manage them effectively.
An improved work-life balance, stronger relationships, and greater productivity will be the outcome.
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