Do I need Emotional Intelligence?
Why leaders are looking for it?
Emotional intelligence (EQ) has become a sought-after skill, with employers searching for candidates who can manage their own emotions to produce positive outcomes.
EQ is a range of competencies that encompasses our ability to understand and manage our own and others’ feelings, then use this knowledge to build positive, productive connections.
Mark Craemer ( US-based organization-development consultant) set some examples: “How you deal with conflict and setbacks, how you encourage people when they’re down, your ability to negotiate or get things done – all of those things touch on emotional intelligence”
It means putting human relationships and our own and others’ feelings first. It can be a challenging mindset but the benefits can be profound, increasing morale, productivity, well-being and personal influence.
So, it is quite clear why employers are looking for it.
But, how to increase our own emotional intelligence?
Yale psychologists Peter Salovey and John D Mayer developed the theory of emotional intelligence (EI) in 1990. Psychologist Daniel Goleman later divided the necessary skillsets for a high EQ into four domains: self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness and relationship management.
The first two qualities relate to the self and the ability to understand and manage our own emotions.
The third and fourth domains define how well we perceive our colleagues’ emotions, and how we use this knowledge to build productive, supportive relationships with them.
To develop EQ, he recommends starting with self-awareness.
Once you have a greater understanding of your own emotions throughout the workday, managing them may become easier.
In moments of high emotion remember to breathe, remember you don't have to respond immediately and take the time within that situation to manage yourself. We can be blind to how we express our emotions component, For this, exchanging feedback with a trusted colleague who also wants to improve their EQ can be mutual help.
“Before you know it, those new neural connections in your brain will be made, and it will become second nature”.
The pandemic has exposed why possessing EQ is now non-negotiable and with the transition to remote working, emotional intelligence is every day more essential as digital spaces reduce spontaneous human connection.
So, have you already started?