AUTHORED BY:
RABAB HAIDER | KNOLSKAPE EDITORIAL TEAM
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.
In 1995, psychologist and science journalist Daniel Goleman published a book introducing most of the world to the nascent concept of emotional intelligence. The idea – that an ability to understand and manage emotions greatly increases our chances of success – quickly took off, and it went on to greatly influence the way people think about emotions and human behavior.
WHY IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IMPORTANT IN THE WORKPLACE?
The shift from prioritizing IQ to emphasizing emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) in the workplace has gained significant traction in recent years. Studies and case studies from the corporate world provide compelling evidence of the importance of emotional intelligence in achieving individual and organizational success.
One notable example is the case of Google, a company renowned for its innovative and dynamic work environment. In a study conducted by Google on its own employees, known as Project Oxygen, they found that the top characteristics of their most successful managers were not related to technical expertise or intelligence. Instead, qualities such as empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication were identified as key factors contributing to managerial success. This finding led Google to place a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence in their hiring and leadership development processes.
Additionally, a study published in the Harvard Business Review examined the impact of emotional intelligence on leadership effectiveness. The study found that leaders with higher emotional intelligence were more likely to create a positive work climate, foster employee engagement, and drive higher levels of performance. The research further highlighted that leaders with high emotional intelligence were better equipped to handle stressful situations, resolve conflicts, and build strong relationships with their teams.
Statistics also shed light on the significance of emotional intelligence in the business world. According to a survey conducted by TalentSmart, a leading provider of emotional intelligence assessments, emotional intelligence accounts for 58% of job performance in various professions. The study further revealed that 90% of top performers possess high levels of emotional intelligence.
Moreover, a study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership found that executives with higher levels of emotional intelligence were more likely to deliver better business results. The research indicated that organizations led by emotionally intelligent leaders experienced increased employee engagement, improved team collaboration, and higher levels of customer satisfaction.
These examples, statistics, and case studies demonstrate that emotional intelligence is a critical factor in success within the modern corporate world. While IQ remains important, organizations are increasingly recognizing that employees with high emotional intelligence are better equipped to navigate the complexities of the workplace, build strong relationships, and drive performance. As a result, many organizations now prioritize emotional intelligence in their recruitment, development, and leadership practices, recognizing its profound impact on individual and organizational outcomes.
FIVE COMPONENTS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AT WORK
Psychologist Daniel Goleman is known for developing the five components of emotional intelligence at work in the 1990s. The following are those components, along with examples of how they are used in the workplace:
| SELF-AWARENESS
Self-awareness is the ability to identify your emotions and emotional triggers. Being aware of your feelings helps you understand how others might perceive your emotions. You might use self-awareness at work to understand how you are viewed by your coworkers, clients or managers.
How to Improve Self-Awareness in the Workplace?
- Talk with employees and listen to what they have to say
- Assess emotional weaknesses
- Create a morning routine that puts you in the right mood to start the day
- Avoid making decisions at the height of an emotional moment
- Create a daily schedule that ensures work gets done ahead of time
| SELF-REGULATION
Self-regulation is the ability to control and adjust your emotions to create a more positive effect. Being in control of your feelings is essential in any situation because your emotions strongly affect other people. You might control your emotions on the job by adjusting your feelings to keep a professional appearance in front of clients.
How to Improve Self-Regulation in the Workplace?
- Understand many things are out of your control
- Relieve stress with hobbies or meditation exercises
- Take a moment to pause before responding to criticism
- Call out toxic environments in a constructive manner
| MOTIVATION
Motivation is the urge and desire to do something, and it relates to emotional intelligence because your desires can promote different feelings toward something. For example, having a desire to complete all your daily tasks successfully might be displayed as intrinsic motivation to your employer — and a way of fulfilling your own inner needs and goals.
How to Improve Intrinsic Motivation in the Workplace?
- Focus on the positive
- Follow what you’re passionate about
- Practice having an optimistic attitude
- Avoid chasing material rewards
| EMPATHY
Empathy is the ability to identify and understand the feelings of another person. Understanding the feelings of others allows you to handle workplace situations more effectively. For instance, when a coworker is showing signs of dismay, you can react with empathy to alleviate a situation that might have become worse.
How to Improve Empathy in the Workplace?
- Take the time to see a situation from another person’s point of view
- List out the potential outcomes of a decision and how it affects team members
- Get to know your employees
- Recognize others’ input and thank them for voicing an opinion
- Regularly praise other people’s work
| SOCIAL SKILLS
Social skills are the tools used to communicate and interact with other people. Having stronger social skills — like effective communication and respect — allows you to listen, speak and resolve conflicts more effectively. Social skills can be used in the workplace to develop your career and are essential tools for leaders.
How to Improve Social Skills in the Workplace?
- Practice public speaking, like talking in front of a mirror
- Be an active listener at all times
- Pay attention to nonverbal cues from others
- Help resolve workplace conflicts whenever they arise
8 SIGNS OF HIGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
People with high EQs master their emotions because they understand them, and they use an extensive vocabulary of feelings to do so. While many people might describe themselves as simply feeling “bad,” emotionally intelligent people can pinpoint whether they feel “irritable,” “frustrated,” “downtrodden,” or “anxious.” The more specific your word choice, the better insight you have into exactly how you are feeling, what caused it, and what you should do about it.
It doesn’t matter if they’re introverted or extroverted, emotionally intelligent people are curious about everyone around them. This curiosity is the product of empathy, one of the most significant gateways to a high EQ. The more you care about other people and what they’re going through, the more curiosity you’re going to have about them.
Emotionally intelligent people don’t just understand emotions; they know what they’re good at and what they’re terrible at. They also know who pushes their buttons and the environments (both situations and people) that enable them to succeed. Having a high EQ means you know your strengths and you know how to lean into them and use them to your full advantage while keeping your weaknesses from holding you back.
Much of emotional intelligence comes down to social awareness; the ability to read other people, know what they’re about, and understand what they’re going through. Over time, this skill makes you an exceptional judge of character. People are no mystery to you. You know what they’re all about and understand their motivations, even those that lie hidden beneath the surface.
Emotionally intelligent people distance themselves from their mistakes but do so without forgetting them. By keeping their mistakes at a safe distance, yet still handy enough to refer to, they are able to adapt and adjust for future success. It takes refined self-awareness to walk this tightrope between dwelling and remembering. Dwelling too long on your mistakes makes you anxious and gun shy, while forgetting about them completely makes you bound to repeat them. The key to balance lies in your ability to transform failures into nuggets of improvement. This creates the tendency to get right back up every time you fall down.
It takes strength and courage to be able to say you’re sorry. But doing so demonstrates humility, a quality that will naturally draw others to you.
Emotional intelligence helps you realize that apologizing doesn’t always mean you’re wrong. It does mean valuing your relationship more than your ego.
Dealing with difficult people is frustrating and exhausting for most. High EQ individuals control their interactions with toxic people by keeping their feelings in check. When they need to confront a toxic person, they approach the situation rationally. They identify their own emotions and don’t allow anger or frustration to fuel the chaos. They also consider the difficult person’s standpoint and are able to find solutions and common ground. Even when things completely derail, emotionally intelligent people are able to take the toxic person with a grain of salt to avoid letting him or her bring them down.
When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from the opinions of other people, you are no longer the master of your own happiness. When emotionally intelligent people feel good about something that they’ve done, they won’t let anyone’s opinions or snide remarks take that away from them. While it’s impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don’t have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people’s opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within.
HOW TO IMPROVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
You can improve your emotional intelligence with training, reflection, and deliberate practice. Starting with self-awareness, you can find and use the techniques that improve the areas of emotional intelligence you lack. Here are a few ideas to increase your emotional intelligence in the workplace.
| BUILD INTERPERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS
The best way to build emotional intelligence is by practicing in real-world situations. Go for lunch with co-workers, attend industry-relevant networking events, and create relationships with people you work with.
| LEAN TOWARDS THE POSITIVE
You must learn to replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. In moments of pressure, focus on amplifying the positive and leading your team with an optimistic outlook. When things go wrong, instead of hammering on the negative, which reduces team morale, you can reframe your perspective and ask, “how can we do better next time?”
| MANAGE YOUR STRESS PROACTIVELY
Stress is inevitable. Stress at work is almost guaranteed. Exercise, meditation, and taking regular breaks from work are a few ways to reduce stress.
| SCHEDULE “ME” TIME TO THINK
As a leader or project manager, you must schedule a time during the workweek to think and plan your ongoing projects. Writing in a journal, list, or within a project management tool is one of the simplest ways to increase self-awareness and emotional intelligence in the workplace.
| HAVE A CONFIDANT OR MENTOR
Leaders with coaches perform better than leaders who handle everything on their own. It is helpful to talk to someone you trust about your emotions. It will help if this person is objective and has their emotions in check.
Talking to someone who understands your work and responsibilities helps you reflect and become more aware of what needs to be done. You can even ask for advice. Having a good confidant or mentor can help you build your emotional intelligence quickly.
| ENROLL IN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TRAINING
Becoming emotionally intelligent is not a one-and-done deal. We can all improve in self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. When you know the areas you need to improve in the most, you can enroll in an online or offline emotional training course.
CAN WE MEASURE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE WORKPLACE?
Yes! Fortunately, there are many valid, reliable measures of emotional intelligence out there. Some are even geared towards teams and workplaces.
These two tools are some of the best measures available for getting a good indicator of EI/EQ in your workplace.
| MULTIDIMENSIONAL EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT – WORKPLACE (MEIA-W)
This measure from Tett, Wang, and Fox (2006) takes only 20 minutes to complete and can provide you with a personality-based measure of the emotional intelligence of your workforce.
According to the experts, this measure is best for:
- Qualified professionals looking to select leaders and employees with emotional intelligence (EI) and exceptional interpersonal skills
- Psychologists seeking a brief, comprehensive, personality-based measure of EI
- Employees and leaders who want to develop critical people skills
- Users seeking convenient online administration and a simple, brief, easy to interpret report
The MEIA-W is composed of 144 short items that assess 10 distinct facets of emotional intelligence:
- Recognition of Emotion in the Self
- Regulation of Emotion in the Self
- Recognition of Emotion in Others
- Regulation of Emotion in Others
- Nonverbal Emotional Expression
- Empathy
- Intuition versus Reason
- Creative Thinking
- Mood Redirected Attention
- Motivating Emotions
| MULTIDIMENSIONAL EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT – WORKPLACE (MEIA-W)
This scale was developed by emotional intelligence researcher Adeyemo in 2008 and offers a measure of emotional intelligence in team members. It is a self-report measure containing 30 items rated on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).
Two scales (made up of their own subscales) comprise the WEIP:
- Ability to Deal with Own Emotions
- Ability to Recognize Own Emotions
- Ability to Discuss Own Emotions
- Ability to Manage Own Emotions
- Ability to Deal with Others’ Emotions
- Ability to Recognize Others’ Emotions
- Ability to Manage Others’ Emotions
KNOLSKAPE'S EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE COURSE
The most impactful people demonstrate high levels of Emotional Intelligence. KNOLSKAPE’s Web-based Developing Emotional Intelligence course helps participants understand and leverage emotional intelligence in modern organizations. Through exercises, case studies, and discussions, they understand how to identify and moderate their emotions and the emotions of others, ultimately learning how to build strong relationships both within and without organizations.
KNOLSKAPE'S
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
COURSE OUTLINE
- Defining Emotional Intelligence
- The principles of emotional intelligence
- Emotional vocabulary and its relevance
- The Emotional Intelligence Framework
- Methods to regulate emotions
- Building empathy
- Building and managing relationships by leveraging the EI framework
- Solving caselets on managing relationships
| GETTING STARTED
Unlike your Intelligence Quotient, your EQ is highly malleable. As you train your brain by repeatedly practicing new emotionally intelligent behaviors, it builds the pathways needed to make them into habits. As your brain reinforces the use of these new behaviors, the connections supporting old, destructive behaviors die off. Before long, you begin responding to your surroundings with emotional intelligence without even having to think about it.
KNOLSKAPE’s Emotional Intelligence course recognizes these factors and trains you to deploy useful tools and techniques to regulate emotions.
Wish to learn more about it?
REQUEST A DEMO TODAY!
