Have you ever lost your temper at work? Did you express your anger by shouting or tossing something at a desk across the room?
There is a better way to handle unpleasant situations without taking it out on the furniture.
You could use your emotional intelligence to manage your emotions.
One cannot overstate the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace in the 21st century. Before we dive deep and discover the benefits of emotional intelligence in the workplace, let’s understand the meaning of emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence, sometimes referred to as EQ or emotional quotient, is the ability to recognize and manage your emotions to navigate tricky situations in life.
It’s a crucial skill not just for the workplace but for life in general.
Why Is Emotional Intelligence Important In The Workplace?
Once you understand the meaning of emotional intelligence at the workplace you will realize why this set of skills is critical for success.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, understand and manage your own emotions.
In simple terms, using emotional intelligence helps make the work environment positive and pleasant for all.
EQ is an important tool to resolve conflicts healthily. By using emotional intelligence one can perceive how others are feeling and then act without hurting others.
People who can smartly channel their emotional responses and successfully manage conflict earn the respect of others. These are important qualities of a leader. If you want to advance in your career, you must develop emotional intelligence skills.
The Impact Of Emotional Intelligence In The Workplace
Emotional intelligence in the workplace can help you perform better, whether you are an employee, a manager or a business owner.
In the modern age, businesses are becoming increasingly dynamic. While employers expect high productivity, they also understand the importance of job satisfaction and a healthy office culture. Both are direct outcomes of emotional intelligence at the workplace.
Many people assume that one should leave emotions outside the office. But denying one’s own emotions or emotional situations is unhealthy and can prove to be harmful in the long run. Rather than ignoring tension, conflict, or dissatisfaction, use emotional intelligence in the workplace to resolve it.
How To Improve Emotional Intelligence At The Workplace
Now that you understand the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, let us talk about the art of developing emotional intelligence at the workplace.
To achieve that, you need to inculcate the following five main components of emotional intelligence:
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Self-awareness
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Self-regulation
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Self-motivation
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Empathy
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Social Skills
Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
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Self-awareness:
Self-awareness is the first step to being emotionally aware. You must learn how to recognize your own emotions so that you can manage them better. Start by looking inwards and being more in tune with your emotional state. Recognize patterns to understand what makes you upset, angry, or confused.
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Self-discipline:
There is a difference between knowing what is right and being able to do it. Sometimes staying calm and composed in a difficult situation is easier said than done. Use self-discipline to control your emotions and mood swings. With discipline, you can avoid impulsive outbursts and spontaneous reactions.
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Self-Motivation:
You must be motivated if you want to achieve your career goals. Passion for your job, positivity and ceaseless effort towards self-improvement are proofs of your emotional intelligence and motivation.
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Empathy:
Empathy means understanding what others are feeling. It also includes an understanding of emotional and cultural differences. Empathy can be especially helpful for people involved in hiring and talent retention in their organizations. It is also a prized soft skill in managers and team leaders. If you are empathetic to others you will be a respected and cherished colleague at work.
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Social Skills:
Social skills include teamwork and leadership skills. Strong social skills will help you forge connections with your colleagues and navigate social situations with ease. Managers and team leaders with good social skills can shepherd their teams in the direction they want.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence and success in the workplace are synonymous with each other. Once you master emotional intelligence at the workplace, you will find it easy to make connections and interact with others. Emotional intelligence is the key to understanding your colleagues, healthily expressing your emotions and nurturing good relationships with fellow employees.
Harappa Education’s Interpreting Self course will help you build your emotional soft skills. The course will help you gather tools to identify your blind spots so you can improve your behavior. The River of Life exercise will help you reflect on your life-changing experiences and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. Learn to use tools to improve your emotional intelligence from leading educators and trainers and become more emotionally aware!
Explore topics such as Emotional Intelligence, the Components of Emotional Intelligence and Examples of Emotional Intelligence from our Harappa Diaries section and take charge of your growth.