WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS IMPORTANT IN LEADERSHIP

The skills you learned in the technical field earned your first promotion may not ensure the next. If you’re hoping to get into a leadership position, there’s an emotional component you should be aware of. It will help you lead teams, manage stress, provide feedback, and interact with others.

It’s referred to as emotional intelligence and is responsible for almost 90 per cent of what makes the top performers apart from others with similar technical abilities and expertise.

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

The term “emotional intelligence” refers to the capacity to comprehend and manage your own emotions and identify and influence the moods of others around you. The term was used in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey. However, it was later adopted through the work of psychologist Daniel Goleman.

A decade ago, Goleman emphasized that emotional intelligence is crucial in leadership, saying in the Harvard Business Review, “The most successful leaders are alike in a fundamental way: They all possess an incredibly high level of what’s now become known as emotional intelligence. It’s not like IQ or technical abilities aren’t important. They’re important, but…they are the entry-level requirements for executive jobs.”

In the past emotional intelligence, also called EQ — has become an essential ability. Research conducted by EQ supplier TalentSmart indicates that emotional intelligence can be the best performance indicator. Employers have been paying attention 70. Per cent of employers interviewed by CareerBuilder stated that they prefer the EQ factor over IQ. They also noted that people with high emotional intelligence tend to be calmer, manage conflicts effectively, and react to colleagues with empathy.

THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

The concept of emotional intelligence is usually divided into four essential capabilities:

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-management
3. Social awareness
4. Management of relationships

To increase the quality of your life, it’s essential to comprehend what each aspect encompasses. This is an analysis of these four areas:

1. Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is at the heart of everything. It is the ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of your character and identify your feelings and their effect on your personal and team performance.

Based on research conducted by an organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich 95 % of employees believe they’re self-aware. However, just 10 or 15 per cent are actually, which can cause difficulties for employees. Working with people who aren’t self-aware can hinder a team’s performance by half, and Eurich’s research indicates that this can cause stress and lower motivation.

To bring out the best in others, it is first necessary to be the best version of yourself. This is when self-awareness becomes an essential factor. A simple way to gauge your self-awareness is to take 360-degree feedback. This is where you analyze your performance and then put your performance against the views of your boss, peers and direct supervisors. This way, you’ll gain insight into your behaviour and learn what you perceive in the workplace.

1. Self-Management

Self-management is the capacity to control your emotions, especially during stressful times, and maintain optimism despite challenges. People who lack self-control are more likely to be reactive and have a difficult time managing their emotional impulses.

A reaction is usually automatic. The more attuned you are to your emotional intelligence, the easier it is to get from reaction to action. It’s crucial to take a moment, breathe in a calm, collected way and do whatever you can to control your emotions, whether walking for a while or calling a friend so that you are better able to respond thoughtfully to stress or adversity.

1. Social Awareness

While it’s crucial to recognize and manage your emotions, you need to be able to discern an environment. Social awareness is the ability to identify other people’s emotions as well as the dynamics that are in play within your company.

Leaders who are adept at social awareness can demonstrate empathy. They seek to be aware of their colleagues’ emotions and opinions, which allows them to collaborate and communicate more effectively with their colleagues.

The global leader development company DDI has ranked empathy as the top leadership ability. It claims that those who have mastered empathy are more than 40 per cent more effective in coaching, engaging others, and making decisions. In a different study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership (pdf), researchers found that those who have more compassion for their direct employees are seen as more effective by their superiors.

Through a more empathic and thoughtful way of communicating, You can be more supportive of your team members while enhancing your performance.

1. Relationship Management

Management of relationships refers to your capability to coach, influence and coach others and manage conflict efficiently.

Many prefer not to be involved in the conflict; however, dealing with problems is essential. Studies show that any unresolved conflict could waste up to eight hours with conversations and other non-productive actions, which can stress the resources and morale.

Suppose you’re looking to ensure that your employees are satisfied. In that case, You must have those difficult conversations: In a recent survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, 72% of employees considered “respectful treatment of all employees at all levels” as the most critical factor for the satisfaction of their jobs.

WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MATTERS

The leaders set the tone for their company. If they are not emotionally intelligent and sensitive, it can have a few adverse effects, resulting in lower employee engagement and a more frequent turnover. There are lots of emotional intelligence courses available online for leaders and managers. You can visit the official website of EQ World to know more. 

Although you may be a pro at your job regarding technical proficiency, if you need help communicating your ideas to colleagues or others successfully, these technical skills are likely to be addressed. If you can master the art of emotional intelligence, you’ll be able to remain on the right track to enhance your career and improve your organization.