Reaping the Benefits of Emotional Intelligence
Finding a successful business nowadays that doesn't emphasize emotional intelligence is difficult. Employers worldwide are using emotional intelligence to aid in employee development, promotion, and hiring. They know that a great workplace can attract top talent, increase employee engagement, and impact productivity and performance; ideal leaders also recognize this.1
Employees who recognize their or others' emotions are more capable of interacting with and comprehending others. They are also better at handling their stress. Managing your emotions allows you to lead and assist others, making you happier and more prosperous.2
It is, therefore, insightful to check some companies that managed to apply emotional intelligence within their companies4:
- At L'Oreal, sales agents picked using the company's old selection process dramatically outsold salespeople selected using other criteria. Salespeople chosen based on emotional competence sold $91,370 more annually than other salespeople, resulting in a $2,558,360 gain in net revenue. Additionally, the turnover rate for salespeople chosen based on emotional competency was 63% lower in the first year.
- According to a leadership 360 evaluation of 358 managers from the Johnson & Johnson Consumer and Personal Care Group, those who performed well had much higher "emotional competence" than other managers.3
- Executives at PepsiCo who were chosen for their emotional intelligence competencies produced 10% more work.
- At Sheraton, an emotional intelligence program increased market share by 24%.
- Amadori saw a 63% decrease in turnover, and manager's emotional intelligence was favorably connected with plant performance.
- To save $190 million, the US Air Force is screening the pararescue jumpers using emotional intelligence.
- A significant pharmaceutical business had double-digit profit growth along with an 8.9% increase in critical team emotional intelligence.
Creating an emotionally intelligent workplace and reaping its benefits is definitely attributed to the work of determined successful leaders who have put in lots of effort.
Leaders Reap! Leaders Sow!
There are numerous reasons why emotional intelligence is important in the workplace, but two stand out in particular5:
- It is associated with greater job satisfaction for those with high EI, and employees who work with or are managed by persons with high EI
- It has a substantial correlation to work performance
If you were in the place of a leader, and with your background in "Emotional Intelligence", how do you think leaders can build such an emotionally intelligent culture?
Together we can explore some ideas!
Be a Role Model
When leaders perform successfully, the team will be able to tell. Are you in charge of your emotions? Are you working on cultivating and enhancing your self-awareness? Improve this skill by first becoming aware of the physiological changes that accompany your emotions, such as an upset stomach or a rapid heartbeat when you're furious.
Encourage Employees to distinguish Between Personality and Emotions
Simple definitions of personality include fundamental patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion that are distinctive to an individual and are shaped by the complex interactions between nature and nurture. Emotions, on the other hand, are patterns of physiologic, behavioral, and experiential responses to particular situations. Employees need to learn the distinction to understand that emotions are not permanent, they are continuously changing. Hence, we can change the way we behave due to the impact of some emotions, leading to a change in behavior.6
・Try this activity:
Team members mark a large calendar that one leader hangs on the wall with emojis representing their emotions. It helps to develop emotional awareness to encourage employees to use the phrase "I feel frustrated" rather than "I am frustrated."
Make sure Staff Feel Appreciated
A voice gives a person a sense of connection. Ask employees how they feel about a change or project to give them a chance to voice their opinions and feel heard. Make it acceptable for them to express their anger, frustration, or apprehension to you. Saying "thank you" also communicates your appreciation for others.
Make Fact-Based Feedback Routine
Everyone may improve by providing (and receiving) both constructive and positive feedback. The best place to begin is with a question. "How are you doing? What do you think? Don't personalize your criticism if it's unfavorable. Be receptive to input from your team as well. "What would you do differently if you were in my position?" Control your responses to what you hear, please. If you don't like it, give it some thought and wait before responding.
Make Assertiveness Training Accessible to All Staff Members
Explosive wrath, bitterness, and frustration are the results of suppressed feelings. For many people, speaking up in the right way is challenging. Employees can avoid emotional outbursts by being taught how and when to handle challenging events and people.
Encourage Stress Management
Keep track of growing workloads, due dates, and pressures your staff is dealing with. When you can, offer assistance. To ensure less emotional ups and downs, provide stress-reducing techniques and training.7
We encourage you to put this into action immediately!
Action Plan
| Step |
Actions |
| 1. Be A Role Model |
- Do you consider yourself self-aware? How can you enhance your self-awareness? (You can refer to the self-awareness article here for some insights)
- Pick three behaviors that you intend to role model over the next two weeks
|
| 2. Encourage employees to distinguish between personality and emotions |
We have picked up a couple of free printable, downloadable feelings charts for ease of reference:
|
| 3. Make sure staff feel appreciated |
Prepare an appreciation gesture for each of your employees this week. Schedule them within our weekly planner.
|
| 4. Make fact-based feedback a routine |
How do you plan to give feedback to your employees?
Do you need to plan for monthly feedback meetings? Do it now!
|
| 5. Make assertiveness training accessible |
Is everyone on your team trained for assertiveness?
If not, what actions do you need to take?
|
| 6. Encourage stress management |
Do you need to check current workloads and due dates?
What did you find?
What actions do you need to take to help and encourage stress management within your team?
|
1Forbes, 17 Oct 2019, Roberta Moore, Emotional Intelligence At Work: Becoming The Leader Of The Future, Accessed 13 Jan 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/10/17/emotional-intelligence-at-work-becoming-the-leader-of-the-future/?sh=7024e99f7991
2 Indeed, 8 Aug 2022, Jamie Birt, The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, Accessed 13 Jan 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/emotional-intelligence-importance
3 Talent Smart, Accessed 13 Jan 2023, http://lpdinc.com/TalentSmart_Emotional_Intelligence_LPD.PDF
4 Accessed 13 Jan 2023, https://www.6seconds.org/case/business-case-ebook/#form
5Positive Psychology, 5 Dec 2018, Courtney E. Ackerman, MA, How to Improve Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, Accessed 14 Jan 2023,https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-intelligence-workplace/#What-is-EI
6Accessed 14 Feb 2023, < https://www.tutorialspoint.com/relationship-between-personality-and-emotions#:~:text=In%20simple%20terms%2C%20personality%20refers,physiological%20reactions%20to%20specific%20events
7Forbes, 18 Sep 2018, Michele Markey, How To Increase Emotional Intelligence On Your Team, Accessed 15 Jan 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/09/18/how-to-increase-emotional-intelligence-on-your-team/?sh=cebbd291fa14
For more about this topic, download our latest book " Emotional Intelligence: Your Path to Inner Peace and Self Discovery Part2" for FREE:
