In our world today, success is often measured in grades, promotions, and material accomplishments. One critical factor is often overlooked–emotional intelligence (EQ). Unlike your IQ which centers on your cognitive intelligence, EQ focuses on your ability to manage emotion–both yours and others’. Further, EQ is the cornerstone for strong communication, empathy, and effective leadership.
Whether you’re striving for a leadership position, hoping to build stronger work relationships, or simply looking to improve self-awareness, mastering emotional intelligence is a game-changer.
Let’s explore the importance of emotional intelligence, how it influences our workplaces, and practical steps you can take to develop it.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. EQ has become a popular topic in recent years—especially around the workplace. The term, however, was first introduced in 1990 by John Mayer and Peter Salovey, who described it as a set of skills that allow individuals to effectively recognize, express, and interpret their own emotions and those of others. At its core, EQ is a type of self-awareness that helps you understand emotional expression—both within yourself and in those around you.
Why is it important to the workplace?
From identifying subtle social cues and better understanding someone’s needs to regulating your own emotions in order to make logical decisions, emotional intelligence is key to becoming your best self in the workplace and to organizational success.
A recent study found that 90% of the top performers at work were high in emotional intelligence. Those who are able to understand and manage their own emotions and the emotions of those they interact with in the workplace help build a more dynamic and efficient workplace. What’s more, those with a high emotional intelligence may be better equipped to handle workplace conflicts and make more well-rounded decisions.
Similarly, emotional intelligence may prime you for career growth and success in leadership positions. In fact, most employers say soft skills and emotional intelligence are essential for growth and success. Likewise, in a Lee Hecht Harrison Penna survey, 75% of respondents used emotional intelligence to determine promotions and pay rises.
Psychological research also suggests that well-developed emotional intelligence is essential for achieving the goals of an organization, increasing leadership effectiveness, and boosting overall job satisfaction. Those who strive for a higher emotional intelligence typically improve their communication skills, sharpen their decision making, and are subsequently better equipped for growth. Because it’s important to invest time in developing your own emotional intelligence, we’ve compiled five top-tier tips to improve and understand your emotional intelligence.
5 ways to improve your emotional intelligence:
1. Up your self-awareness game
A key element of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. Being fully aware of your emotions and how you display these emotions to the world is the first step to increasing your emotional intelligence. To boost your emotional awareness, take a day or two to focus on the emotions you feel throughout a workday. What emotions do you experience the most? How do you tend to display and handle these emotions? Are there any particular activities at work that evoke negative emotions?
2. Focus on what you say and how you say it
Clear and concise phrasing minimizes the risk of miscommunication—a major reason for low retention rates in an organization, as this study reports. It also helps you keep difficult conversations focused on facts rather than being overcome by emotion. Using positive yet concise language can also be effective in navigating others’ emotions.
When communicating, your tone of voice can be just as crucial as the words you choose. A negative, harsh, or disinterested tone can misrepresent your intended message. It might give the impression that you hold negative opinions about the topic or lack interest in the conversation–particularly conversations that are difficult or personal in nature. By refining how you speak, you can enhance your ability to communicate effectively with others and stay aware of others’ emotions.
3. Take time to focus on empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand others’ emotions and experiences. It involves recognizing someone else's emotions, imagining what they might be going through, and responding with care and compassion. Empathy allows not only to connect more deeply with others, but it can also foster trust, crucial to effective leadership. If you want to improve your emotional intelligence, build empathy by actively listening to others, asking open-ended questions, putting yourself in others’ shoes, and reflecting on your own relatable experiences.
4. Find hidden opportunities within conflict and complaints
Conflict and complaints are a common workplace experience. How we handle these situations and what we take away from them can be the deciding factor between success and stagnation. Within every conflict or complaint lies an opportunity to improve your emotional intelligence.
When you’re faced with an interoffice conflict, take a moment to reflect on your emotions and the emotions of those involved. What emotions could all involved be experiencing? How might those emotions affect their ability to problem solve? Is there a problem at the heart of the conflict that’s not being adequately addressed? Pausing to consider the emotions contributing to and resulting from a conflict can improve your emotional intelligence and your ability to self regulate.
5. Practice self regulation
Although emotional intelligence includes understanding and considering others’ emotions, it also means keeping your own emotions in check. Self-regulation is a cornerstone of emotional intelligence, allowing you to manage your emotions and respond to situations with thoughtfulness rather than impulsivity. Self regulation involves objectively interpreting your feelings as they arise and understanding their underlying causes or triggers. Building awareness of what triggers various emotions enables you to pause, evaluate your reactions, and make level-headed decisions. In a professional setting, self-regulation can help you adapt to challenges, keep calm under pressure, and foster a more positive work environment.
Finely-tuned emotional intelligence is crucial to our workplaces and a hallmark of growth. Devoting time to understanding and managing your emotions while empathizing with others can strengthen your work relationships, improve your communication skills, and drive growth. Start tuning your EQ today.
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