We often think and talk about the importance of a person’s IQ, especially within the workplace. However, as leaders and their teams seek to develop well-rounded and holistic teams that encompass many talents and skills, the discussion has moved from IQ to EQ (or EI). The workforce has begun to acknowledge the importance of a person’s emotional intelligence for a number of reasons. People who have a high EI are very aware of their own emotions and are able to read the emotions of others. This skill can help a team develop channels of effective communication, encourage diverse thinking, and participate in tough, yet fruitful conversations. If it’s time to start developing your own emotional intelligence, here are a few tips:
Start with yourself. If you want to learn how to read other people’s emotions more effectively, you have to start with understanding your own emotions. Think about the last time you reacted to something work-related. It could be the way you reacted to criticism, to a challenge, or to praise. Take a moment to reflect on how you felt initially and think about the thought process that led you to your reaction. Getting into this practice of understanding how and why we react in certain situations will help us understand how and why other’s react the way they do.
Observe. While first learning about emotional intelligence, it can be helpful to quietly observe people’s body language and nonverbal cues. The next time you participate in a meeting, try reading the other people in the room. This means paying attention to the way they react to certain decisions or statements.
Ask questions. When you sense that someone is reacting internally, take some time to ask how they are feeling. Using non-threatening questions to better understand people’s emotions will allow you to gain insight on who they are as a person and a coworker.
Practice. It’s common thinking that being emotional at work is a bad thing. However, sharing emotions can be a reflection of a person’s loyalty and commitment to their work. If you truly want to know how people are feeling, you need to share your feelings first. When people start to recognize this behavior, they will begin to catch on and mimic this practice. Sharing emotional reactions and feelings saves a team time. You don’t have to play the guessing game, and you won’t have to spend time cleaning up the mess made from poorly made assumptions.
At Quadrivium Advisors, we know how hard it can be to share emotions with team members. But, we also know how important it is. That’s why we help leaders and their teams develop their emotional intelligence. If it’s time to develop yours, connect with us here.