Emotional intelligence is a critical component of leadership. Your ability to manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others, is considered one of the most powerful predictors of job performance. Some experts suggest that emotional intelligence is more important for success in life and career than hard skills and IQ.
The term was first coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey, but was later popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman. “The most effective leaders have one thing in common: they all have high levels of emotional intelligence,” Goleman emphasized in his work.
In recent years, many have had to cope with the psychological, physical, and economic consequences of a pandemic and political unrest around the world, which has caused a range of different — and often conflicting — emotions. And in light of all this, we realize that emotional intelligence is needed more than ever before. Employees with high EI are more likely to remain calm under pressure, resolve conflicts effectively, and empathize with colleagues.
In this article, we will look at what emotional intelligence is, why it is important, and how to develop it.
What is emotional intelligence and why is it important
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, recognize, display, control, evaluate, and use emotions to communicate and relate effectively and constructively with others. This skill helps you solve practical problems and achieve goals in life and work. Expressing and controlling your emotions is important, but so is the ability to understand and respond to the emotions of others.
A lack of emotional skills can lead to conflicts in the workplace, such as misunderstandings due to the inability to recognize or understand the emotions of co-workers. One of the most common indicators of low emotional intelligence is difficulty managing and expressing emotions. This can lead to problems with recognizing co-workers and intolerance of their actions. Think about the relationships you have with your co-workers. Are your conversations tense? Do you constantly blame others when projects don't go as planned? Are you prone to angry outbursts? These are all signs of a lack of emotional intelligence.
We use our emotions to respond to situations, statements, and circumstances. If we cannot understand our emotions and sort them out, understand what causes certain feelings, then we cannot respond to them adequately. Sometimes in such situations, what is happening will begin to be distorted. For example, you were reprimanded at work, and in response you entered into an argument and began to conflict. As a result, a situation arose that entailed a depressive state for both parties.
A person with developed emotional intelligence responds to the root of the problem, and not to specific actions or emotional manifestations. This allows him to more calmly perceive constructive criticism, better understand other people and respond to them adequately.
Emotional management is especially important in situations when we are under pressure. For example, when we give or receive feedback, are stressed by tight deadlines, work in a difficult team and unstable conditions.
On a personal level, emotional intelligence helps us:
- not react to unpleasant conversations;
- manage our emotions when we are stressed or feeling overwhelmed;
- improve relationships with people who are important to us.
At work, emotional intelligence can help us:
- avoid conflict;
- motivate others;
- create psychological safety within the team.
What does emotional intelligence consist of?
People with high emotional intelligence are usually very self-aware. They understand their emotions and therefore do not allow their feelings to control them. They are confident because they trust their intuition and do not allow their emotions to get out of control. They are also willing to take an honest look at themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses and work on them. To reach the pinnacle of emotional intelligence, it is necessary to understand its structure.
There are 5 key components that work together to form the complex structure of emotional intelligence.
Self-awareness: the ability to recognize and understand both your own emotions and those around you, as well as the impact of your own mood on others.
To bring out the best in others, you must first bring out the best in yourself, and this is where self-awareness comes in. One simple way to assess your self-awareness is to complete a 360-degree feedback survey, where you rate your performance and then compare it with the feedback of your boss, peers, and direct reports. This process will give you insight into your own behavior and how you are perceived within the organization.
Self-control: the ability to manage your emotions, especially in stressful situations, and maintain a positive outlook despite setbacks. Not giving in to impulses and refraining from making rash decisions. People with good self-control usually do not allow themselves to get too angry or jealous, and do not make impulsive or careless decisions. They think before they act. Characteristics of self-control include thoughtfulness, openness to change, conscientiousness, and the ability to say “no.”
Motivation: intrinsic motivation and the ability to manage your goals and aspirations are also parts of EI. A person with a high level of emotional intelligence is able to find internal sources of motivation, as well as influence the incentives of others. Such people are willing to postpone immediate results for the sake of long-term success. They are highly productive, enjoy challenges, and are very effective in everything they do.
Empathy: the ability to understand the desires, feelings, and needs of others. Sometimes the emotions we perceive can have very different meanings. If someone expresses aggression, the observer must interpret the reason for the person’s anger and what it might mean. For example, if the boss is in a bad mood, there may be many reasons (for example, because he got a speeding ticket on the way to work this morning, not because he is upset with you personally). People with empathy are good at recognizing the emotions of others, even when these feelings are not obvious, so they find it easier to build quality relationships, resolve conflicts, and collaborate.
Social skills: the ability to effectively communicate, listen, and express your thoughts and feelings contributes to the development of healthy relationships. People with strong social skills are usually team players. Instead of focusing primarily on their own success, they help others develop. They are good at resolving disputes, are excellent communicators, and are masters at building effective teams.
To sum up these components, we can say that emotional intelligence is a complex and multifaceted aspect of the human personality. Their development can significantly improve the quality of interaction with the outside world, promoting personal growth and success in the professional environment.
How to develop emotional intelligence
The good news is that emotional intelligence is a skill that can be learned and developed. You just need to have some understanding of EI, learn the tools, and practice them.
Developing EI skills in a competitive work environment is becoming important for professional success. Here are some ways to improve your emotional intelligence.
- Learn to understand your emotions. One of the key qualities of emotionally intelligent people is the ability to recognize and manage their own emotions. By far the most important thing you can do to develop emotional intelligence is to become aware of how your emotions affect your behavior. Regularly pay attention to how you feel and try to identify the causes of these emotions. This will help you better understand yourself and your reactions to the world around you.
- Learn to manage yourself. Once you have understood your emotions, the next step is to learn to manage them. This includes the ability to remain calm in stressful situations, control anger, and not let emotions take over.
- Understand and accept other people's feelings. Being able to perceive how others are feeling is an important quality of emotional intelligence. People communicate both verbally and nonverbally, so it is important to be able to listen and pay attention to the reactions of others. Show empathy and sympathize with feelings that you may not experience yourself and respond to them respectfully. Try to put yourself in the shoes of others so that you can think about how you would feel if you were in their situation.
- Develop communication skills. Communication skills will help you build relationships with those people who can help in certain areas. Communication is very useful in a work environment, where sometimes there are difficulties in solving complex corporate problems. In addition, strong connections can make your time at work more enjoyable, and a friendly team can always celebrate victories and make it easier to get through difficult times.
- Stay positive. If you learn to stay positive even in stressful situations, you can help others stay calm. This can affect future problem solving and teamwork. Although negative emotions also have a place to be, and this is normal, it is better to think in advance about a strategy to minimize their effects and look for solutions.
We train emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence can be used in many ways in everyday life. Some ways to practice emotional intelligence include:
- Being able to accept criticism
- Being able to move on after making a mistake
- Being able to say "no" when necessary
- Being able to share your feelings with others
- Being able to solve problems in ways that work for everyone
- Being empathetic to others
- Being able to listen to others
- Not being judgmental
- Not being personal when giving feedback
Understanding emotions can be the key to improving relationships and strengthening communication skills.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence plays a key role in our lives, helping us to approach situations holistically. Whether you are resolving conflicts, analyzing past actions, or participating in work projects, it is important to remember that the ability to understand yourself and others can significantly affect the outcome.
Working to improve your emotional intelligence can lead to a more successful personal and professional life. It is worth it to gain a broader understanding of the diverse emotional landscapes that each of us faces on a daily basis.
