Emotional intelligence or EQ plays a pivotal role in both your personal and professional success. Your intelligence quotient or IQ will get you through the door. But your ability to recognise and understand your and others’ emotions and their effect on those around you will ultimately determine whether or not you can move up the ladder.
Researchers Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer first explored the term emotional intelligence in 1990. They defined it as “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions” in the journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality. But it was Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author of the book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, who built upon this research and popularised the notion and its business application.
Earlier, it was presumed that those with higher IQ would outperform people with lower IQ at a workplace. Interestingly enough, research has shown that people with higher IQ out-performed the ones with lower IQ only about 20 per cent of the time. Whereas people with lower IQ outdid those with higher IQ 70 per cent of the time. Researchers discovered that the critical difference was emotional intelligence.
In the workplace, emotional intelligence comes down to understanding, expressing and maintaining relationships, and solving problems under pressure. People who possess this quality always seem to know what to say and how to say it so that others are not offended. If you can build and maintain strong relationships, you can work happily and productively with the people around you.
The good news is that, unlike IQ, the level of emotional intelligence can continue to grow, develop and change. You can improve your emotional intelligence with training, reflection, and practice. You can follow these tips to increase your emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Be self-aware
When you are self-aware, you recognise your emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behaviour. You have a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses and you operate with humility and kindness. For example, if you are feeling stressed, uninspired, and deflated in your current role, you must take the time to check in with yourself and understand why you are feeling this way. When you can recognise the emotion and understand its cause, you are in a much better place to address the issue with appropriate action, such as finding productive ways to deal with a difficult colleague.
Being self-aware involves recognizing your own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. This awareness enables you to manage your reactions, make better decisions, and communicate effectively.
By empathizing, you can respond sensitively to their needs, build trust, and foster a collaborative atmosphere.
Responding positively to criticism reflects emotional maturity. This skill not only strengthens your relationships but also helps you learn from feedback.
Embracing change shows adaptability and flexibility. It enables you to navigate transitions with grace, collaborate effectively with others during changes, and maintain a positive attitude in dynamic environments.
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