When the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) first appeared within the 1990s, people thought it had been a joke. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use and manage your emotions in a positive way to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and resolve conflicts. It is known as EQ. Being able to monitor your own feelings and the feelings of the people around you is turning absolutely necessary in the future of work.
A report by The Future of Jobs from the World Economic Forum predicts that emotional intelligence will be the ten most important skills for workers by 2020. Here are the top six reasons why Emotional Intelligence is important in the workplace:
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Job Development
Clearly, EQ helps companies and employees improve performance, production, sales, customer acquisitions, and other areas that lead to increased success as a company and individuals.
Improved performance and productivity are now commonplace in companies. Presently companies require EQ personnel testing and student evaluation. For example, since the US Air Force began testing the EQ, their employers and selected employers have increased their ability to select three best performing players, resulting in savings of $3 million annually. Also, the international company surveyed its partners and found that they were earning more than the average deposited $ 1.2 million more in their accounts, an additional profit of 139 percent.
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Motivation
Image by DAMIAN NIOLET from Pixabay
Those with high EQ have greater self-control and better motivation levels – which may also reduce their procrastination, improve self-esteem, and enable them to specialize in achieving long-term goals. While leaders and managers with high EQs can help teams work more effectively and identify specific drivers who motivate individual employees, teams can also develop emotional intelligence for all. Businesses rely on the employees. Thus, EI helps to adapt quickly to internal and external changes, and show new thinking and come up with new ideas.
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Most Change Driven workplace
If the workplace is high in EQ, it is more likely that it is conducive to change. Low-intensity workplaces are resistant to change. They often fail to put in the effort required to make the transition programs successful or to actively injure themselves. Additionally, unsuccessful plans indicate that the management team is low on EI / EQ. They find it difficult to understand how their proposed change will affect their employees.
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Empathy for employees
Empathy — or the ability to empathize with others — is crucial for emotional intelligence. But it involves more than being able to discern the emotional state of others. Includes your responses to people based on this information. If you feel that someone is feeling down or depressed, how do you react? You can treat them with more care and concern, or you can make an effort to encourage them.
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Community Skills
Being able to get along well with others is an important aspect of emotional intelligence. Genuine emotional awareness involves more than just considering your own feelings and those of others. You also need to be able to apply this information in your daily activities and communication. In professional settings, managers benefit from being able to build relationships and interact with employees. Key social skills include active listening, oral communication skills, non-verbal communication skills, leadership, and persuasion.
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Openness
When difficult times come, emotionally wise leaders do not stop behind closed doors. They are always out of the way with people, making plans, dealing with worries and questions, and reducing fear. Employees rely on such people for information, different expectations, and solutions when certain issues arise. This is the reason why visible and accessible leaders look after the needs of their team. And, provide personal answers to questions that build trust and a good working environment.
Conclusion
In view of all of this, it is easy to see why emotional intelligence is so important in the workplace. But emotional intelligence is not only for CEOs and senior executives. It is an important quality at all levels of human employment, from college students seeking internships to experienced staff who hope to take on leadership roles. If you want to succeed in your career and move on to a career, emotional intelligence is essential to your success. And, it is a skill that researchers believe can be improved with training and practice.
Read more on motivation.
