Why emotional intelligence in the workplace is so important

Emotional intelligence is increasingly in demand in the business world. This is a key trait that allows a person not only to identify their emotions, but also to recognize the feelings of others. This contributes to a harmonious working environment and increases the respect between colleagues. But that’s not all. Emotional intelligence also brings a number of other benefits. Which benefits we talk about ?

What is EQ emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence, also known as EQ, is the ability to identify, understand, evaluate and manage one’s emotions and the emotions of others. People who have it are empathetic and know how others feel in different situations. At the same time, they know themselves and their feelings very well. They understand how they can affect their loved ones or colleagues and why they should not let their emotions run free.

People with high emotional intelligence are literally masters at controlling their emotions. In stressful situations, they do not panic, but handle them calmly, thus reassuring themselves and those around them. In addition, they are excellent decision makers, take constructive criticism well and know how to use it to improve themselves.

Simply put, people with high EQ know themselves perfectly well and know that each person is different and expresses their feelings in a different way. This is doubly true in the workplace sphere, which is highly competitive.

5 elements defining emotional intelligence

According to American psychologist Daniel Goleman, there are five elements that define emotional intelligence. They are:

Confidence

A high level of emotional intelligence usually brings high self-esteem. However, people with high EQ are not arrogant or conceited. On the contrary, thanks to their higher self-esteem, they are able to calm their surroundings in stressful situations. This ensures a smooth workflow at all times, leading to efficient solutions and the best possible work results.

Healthy self-esteem allows for better control of emotions and does not allow feelings to get out of control. People with high EQ are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and are constantly working on them. Regular improvement can ultimately be noticed by a manager or boss.

Emotional intelligence and self-esteem improving activities

Wondering how to improve your self-esteem and increase your emotional intelligence? Experts recommend these two tricks:

• Keep a journal – it can be paper or electronic. Write down each situation and how you acted during it. The more details you write, the better. So don’t be afraid to include how you felt after a certain decision, or what you expected to feel but didn’t. Always set aside some time at the end of the week to look at it and read it. Find out what can be improved and what you need to work on more. But then don’t forget to praise yourself for the things you’ve done. Keep track of your progress and enjoy the little things. Because those are the ones that move you forward the most.
• Observe yourself – have you been in a situation where your self-confidence was at an all-time low? Ask yourself why something like this happened. Who or what was behind the fact that you didn’t feel confident? When you find the source of what is lowering your self-esteem, you will be able to fight it.

Self-control

Controlling your own emotions is sometimes more difficult than it seems. In escalated situations, many are guided by these feelings , which promotes confusion and tension. However, people with emotional intelligence do not give free rein to their feelings, at least not at work. They keep them in check, which helps them clear their minds and think of solutions to individual complications.

People with EQ firstly think and then act. They accept change easily and can say no if something doesn’t suit them. They are not jealous or full of anger. They also avoid impulsive and irresponsible decisions that could put them in uncomfortable situations.

How to improve self-control?

Self-control is a key quality that prevents you from shouting at someone and saying something to them that would make you feel sorry for them. But how to improve it? Use these tips:

• Find out your personal values – to start with, set values that you will use to make decisions and evaluate situations. What is the most important for you? What are you definitely not going to compromise on? Set your values within your work area according to your beliefs and the company that employs you.
• Slow down – instead of reacting immediately, slow down. Think about your answer or what you want to do. Are you really not going to regret it later? Will you reaction have a positive impact on colleagues or the task you are currently working on? If not, change your reaction. Try to think not only about your feelings, but also about how others will feel.
• Don’t be afraid to admit you’re wrong – people aren’t perfect, so don’t unnecessarily punish yourself for mistakes. Accept them, learn from them, but don’t waste your time wondering what you could have done better. You cannot go back to the past, and such reflections will only waste time that could be spent on much better and more important things.
• Keep working on yourself – keep practicing your self-control. Notice how you react to different situations and see if there’s something you could do next time to get even better results or feedback from colleagues. Emotional intelligence books, videos and tests on the internet can also help you with your training.

Motivation

Persons with high emotional intelligence are productive and motivated. They know that quick and immediate results usually do not bring long-term success. They also like to work on themselves, love a challenge and are not afraid to take a riskier but well thought out step into the unknown.

How to improve motivation?

You can improve your motivation with a few proven tips:

• Think about why you do your job – remind yourself why you really enjoy the work you do. Remember the enthusiasm with which you entered it and what drove you during this time. If you find that you’ve changed over time and you just don’t enjoy your job anymore, consider changing it. There are many interesting job offers available today. For example, you can become an IT Project Manager Junior.
• Don’t forget to rest – motivation levels usually drop when a person is tired. So think about regular rest and getting enough sleep.

Empathy

Empathy is a key element of emotional intelligence. It allows you to identify the needs and wants of others without them telling you anything. It prevents people from judging others and from forming various stereotypical prejudices.

The ability to empathize should be possessed not only by every ordinary employee, but also by the manager, supervisor or boss. They will better understand the actions of their subordinates and resolve minor and major conflicts in the workplace more quickly.

How to improve empathy?

You can use these tips to improve your empathy:

• Watch body language and facial expressions – people may not say directly how they feel. Many times their facial expression or attitude will say it for them. Learn to recognize what the different attitudes and expressions mean and observe them the next time you interact with the colleague.
• Try to empathize with the other person’s feelings – imagine you are in that person’s shoes, experiencing what they are experiencing. How would you feel? What would you do to make those feelings go away or change?

Social skills

People with high EQ are team players. For them, the success of the whole team is more important than their own. In addition, they are known for being able to communicate perfectly with others, listen to them and provide the necessary help. Colleagues therefore like them very much and seek their company.

How to improve social skills?

Social skills are key at work. How to improve them? Use this advice:

• Listen to others – when having a conversation, people often don’t listen to the other person. They are rather thinking about what they will say as a response. Communication is thus not effective and many times not even pleasant. If you want others to like you, be genuinely interested in what they say. Find out more details about what they’re saying and show that you are listening everything they tell you.
• Learn new techniques – there are now many emotional intelligence books, courses and videos available to help you learn a variety of new techniques to improve your social skills.

  

Why is emotional intelligence in a workplace so important?

EQ in the workplace is important for several reasons. These include:

• It promotes good relationships – workplace bullying or various other problems are nothing new. However, employees with high levels of emotional intelligence will not stoop to such behaviour. They can get along well with others, preventing a toxic environment that is impossible to work in.
• It enables employees to perform much better – people with high EQ are motivated and constantly strive to improve. In this way, they are able to perform better and receive higher financial rewards or promotions.
• It enables team leaders to make better decisions – managers or business owners with high EQ are able to keep their emotions in check and find solutions calmly and without stress in tense situations. They know that shouting at others or panicking is pointless.
• It enables managers to understand their subordinates – each person has different needs and ideas. Managers need to understand this in order to be able to properly assign subordinates and match them with work tasks. Otherwise, not only the employees themselves will suffer, but also the whole team. The work will not run smoothly and the results will not reach the desired level.

Emotional intelligence books

Emotional intelligence is a key element for developing soft skills. You can improve it in a variety of ways, with books being one of the most popular. This topic has been the main focus of foreign authors who know the importance of effective communication, empathy and many other qualities related to EQ.

So which books should you reach for?

• Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman,
• The Real-World Guide to Emotional Intelligence – Justin Bariso,
• Think Faster, Talk Smarter – Matt Abrahams,
• Master Your Emotions: Develop Emotional Intelligence and Discover the Essential Rules of When and How to Control Your Feelings – Eric Robertson,
• Read People Like a Book – Patrick King.

Emotional intelligence EQ test

The American psychologist Daniel Goleman created a practical test of emotional intelligence that can be found on many websites today. It is so popular that it has its own Slovak version.

You don’t need to do any additional studying to complete the test, as the questions don’t have one right answer. They are used to analyse your personality and find out what your EQ level is. Therefore, answer them truthfully and honestly.

Emotional intelligence in the workplace is a key

Emotional intelligence is a quality you should not lack. It will allow you to achieve better results and continuously move up. It can also help you in your job search. Level up your emotional intelligence and get a great job, a variety of employee benefits and colleagues you’ll get along with.