How Leaders Can Improve Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
It is now more critical than ever for leaders to display high levels of emotional intelligence (EQ).
For leaders and businesses to grow and evolve they must have the ability to collaborate and communicate with employees and coworkers.
To do this, it is important to understand how leaders can improve emotional intelligence in the workplace.
A leader who has a high EQ enables them to maximize their employee’s potential, and build better relationships with their employees, clients, and other leaders. Having a high EQ allows leaders to manage their own actions and reactions when faced with conflict or difficult people.
In this article, we will define emotional intelligence in the workplace, discuss the signs of an emotionally intelligent manager or leader, and provide examples of emotional intelligence in action.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognize, regulate, understand, and express not only your emotions but the emotions of others around you in productive and healthy ways. With a high EQ, you can communicate effectively, express how you feel, connect with others, have empathy, and navigate conflict.
There are four key components to emotional intelligence in the workplace:
1. Self-awareness:
Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions. With strong self-awareness, you are able to better understand your emotions and reactions. You understand why you react the way you do. Beyond just recognizing your emotions, however, is being aware of the effect of your actions, moods, and emotions on other people.
2. Self-management:
You are able to control your own feelings, emotions, and behaviors, especially when things are stressful or challenging. It can regulate your emotions so you do not lash out at others or say something that you might regret. You are able to calm yourself down. You can manage negative feelings - like frustration, agitation, and anger in effective ways. You are able to make decisions in stressful situations.
3. Social awareness:
You are aware of the emotions of others and how they might be feeling. It’s understanding the needs and concerns of others, especially your employees, and being able to empathize with them. You are able to look inward to learn and understand yourself better.
4. Relationship management:
You are able to manage relationships effectively, both in terms of your own personal relationships and the relationships of others in the workplace. You can communicate effectively with employees, resolve conflicts in the workplace, and build trust with your team. You are able to give and receive feedback. You can manage conflict and know how to approach situations so they can be resolved.
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What is Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace?
Research has shown that EQ is a very reliable factor that helps predict overall success in leaders. It is having the ability to recognize and effectively manage not only our personal emotions in ourselves but others as well.
Having this awareness allows a person to make good and sound decisions, deal effectively with stress, build and maintain collaborative relationships using good communication skills, and cope better with ever-changing work environments.
A person who has a high EQ in the workplace is independent and confident. They are a successful employee and have a significant impact on the workplace and others. Emotional intelligence is a sought-after skill that employers are seeking and requiring in the workplace.
7 Signs of an Emotionally Intelligent Manager
Being an emotionally intelligent manager is skill-based and can be learned. Some of the signs of an emotionally intelligent manager are being self-aware, having excellent communication skills, the ability to resolve conflict, being empathetic, and being able to build trust with people on your team and others.
1. They are self-aware.
They understand their own emotions and how they impact their behavior. They are also aware of the emotions of others and how to read them. According to Daniel Goldman, reasonable people - the ones that are effective at maintaining control over their emotions, are the ones that can sustain safe and fair environments. These environments are often drama free with high productivity.
2. They have excellent communication skills.
They are able to communicate effectively, both verbally and non-verbally. They are also good at active listening, and they understand the needs and concerns of others. Having good communication skills also includes being able to manage your thoughts and feelings and communicate them in an effective way to resolve and diffuse conflict.
3. They are able to resolve conflict.
They are able to manage difficult conversations and conflict resolution effectively. They can manage their own emotions when they need to resolve an issue. They listen to both sides, take time to think about the process, and find ways to resolve conflict.
4. They have empathy.
Empathy is the number one factor of organizational performance. A leader who is empathetic can see both sides of an issue and put themselves in another person’s shoes. This makes others feel seen and heard. They feel that their leader gets them and don’t feel shut out just because they have a different opinion or experience from them.
5. They build trust.
They are transparent and honest in their communication, and they follow through on their commitments. They build trust so that people feel safe in expressing how they feel or if they have a different idea. Trust is the foundation of all relationships - both personally and professionally.
6. They respond, not react.
We are all human so often we get defensive or react out of fear or from a trigger. Many people might have a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to something that was said or done. However, a high EQ leader understands what their triggers are and the root cause. The goal is to take a ‘time out’ for a few seconds to decompress and prevent your emotions from taking over.
This allows them to respond in appropriate ways with self-control. Understanding what their triggers are, allows them to gain a deeper understanding so that when these things come up, they have a plan and better self-control.
7. They are open to feedback.
Good managers will ask questions from their team about how they can do better? What is working? What isn’t working? What would help you more? By asking AND listening to their answers and making changes where warranted. They are not empty questions without resolving to do better. This creates greater self-awareness, growth, and introspection.
Examples of Emotional Intelligence of Leaders in the Workplace
There are many ways that emotional intelligence can be displayed in the workplace. Here are a few examples:
Self-aware leaders
Resolves conflict
Shows empathy
Builds trust
Is adaptable and flexible in their thinking
Below I will discuss how each of these examples of emotional intelligence can by displayed by leaders:
1. Self-aware leaders
A leader who is self-aware will be able to manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others in the workplace. They understand the needs and concerns of their employees, and they can build trust.
2. Resolves conflict
A leader who is able to resolve conflict and manage difficult conversations and resolve conflict effectively using effective skills and strategies. They can see both sides of every issue and they will be able to find a resolution that is agreeable to all parties involved.
3. Shows empathy
A leader who has empathy can see both sides of every issue and are able to understand the emotions of their employees. This will help them build trust and rapport with their employees, clients, and stakeholders.
4. Builds trust
A leader who is able to build trust will be transparent and honest in their communication. Their team feels ‘psychologically safe’ in expressing how they feel because they trust their leader. Creating trust - in any relationship or environment - is the foundation.
5. Is adaptable and flexible in their thinking
A leader who is adaptable and flexible in their thinking demonstrates they are open to suggestions, feedback, and information. They are open-minded and not closed off. They don’t think ‘their way is the only way.’
How Leaders Can Improve Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
There are several methods that leaders can use to improve emotional intelligence in the workplace. These include:
1. Getting feedback on your emotional intelligence levels.
One of the best ways to improve your emotional intelligence is to get feedback from others. This is how you grow and learn the skills needed to become more emotionally intelligent. Receiving this feedback can come from employees, clients, or even friends and family. It is important to be open to this feedback and to use it to make changes in your behavior.
2. Seeking EI/EQ Leadership training.
There are many emotional intelligence training programs available, both in person and online. These programs can teach you about emotional intelligence and how to improve it. You can also get an EQ assessment which outlines several areas that comprise the main 4 areas of EQ, allowing you to see your strengths and also the areas of EQ that need improvement.
3. Reading books about Emotional Intelligence.
There are many books available on the topic of emotional intelligence. These books can provide you with a greater understanding of the concept, as well as tips and tricks for improving your own emotional intelligence. Many of the books on the market talk about what EQ is - a skill that can be learned and improved - and actionable steps to improve yours.
4. Seek professional help.
Sometimes, the best way to improve emotional intelligence is to talk to a therapist. This is someone who can help you understand your emotions and how to manage them better. I provide a virtual training session in emotional intelligence for leaders.
5. Practicing meditation and mindfulness.
Meditation is a great way to calm the mind and focus on the present moment. This can be helpful in improving emotional intelligence, as it allows you to be more aware of your emotions and to better manage them. Becoming more mindful of your emotions allows you to acknowledge and accept them without passing judgment on yourself. As you become more mindful, your ability to manage your emotions improves.
How My Virtual Emotional Intelligence Assessment Training Session Works for Leaders
Having good EQ is a predictor of performance. The EQ assessment is a skill-based assessment allowing you to see where your strengths are and the areas that could be improved.
The benefits of High Emotional Intelligence:
Develop healthier and more productive interactions with others,
Make good decisions in your life.
Manage your stress better.
Understand your emotions - and other people you interact with.
Are able to empathize with others.
Recognize the positive benefits of being able to have flexibility in their thinking.
Taking the EQ assessment outlines where your strengths are and the areas that need improvement. How we work together:
1.) We have a quick 15 minute consult to see if will work together
2.) You complete the assessment.
3.) Once completed, we schedule a 1.5-hour session to do a deep dive into your results, set goals to make changes, and strategize to implement your goals.
Click the button below to book your free consult.
Emotional Intelligence is a skill that can be learned and improved. It’s important to know the areas that are strengths and the areas that need improvement so that you can become a more effective leader in the workplace. The first goal is to become aware that this is something you want - and can - do.
All of us have areas in our life that we need to improve and EQ is often one of those areas especially now that it is such an in demand and sought after skill to have not only in the workplace - but in life.
Let’s chat!. Feel free to book a 15 minute consultation to see if should work together to improve your emotional intelligence
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