By: Christina Nguyen
Happy October! October is the first full month of fall, but did you know that it’s also Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month? Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand and manage our own emotions and recognize them in others. Our level of emotional intelligence influences several facets of our everyday personal and interpersonal lives, such as our social skills and the empathy we feel for others.
Since the workplace is an interactive, interdependent setting, emotional intelligence has several pragmatic benefits. A good EQ (emotional quotient) can help us empathize with our teammates and facilitate more cohesive, drama-free teamwork in general.
With how much there is to gain with a high EQ, it’s not too surprising that many employers actually value EQ over IQ. Here are some ways that having a higher EQ can help you succeed in the workplace:
1. Manage negative emotions better.
No matter how much you love your job, there will always be frustrating moments. From the printer jamming after three tries to print the same thing to a coworker not pitching in enough and relegating their work to you, you’re not always going to be feeling your best.
Emotional intelligence includes properly channeling strong, sudden, and aggressive emotions so that no one is unnecessarily harmed. Instead, you’ll find kinder, gentler, and more productive ways to express yourself instead of throwing a tantrum. You’ll be able to more logically and calmly process the situation, which will result in more learning from the mistakes you or anyone else made.
2. Better understand and evoke different perspectives.
Being more attuned to everyone’s emotions requires carefully and actively listening to them and trying to understand their point of view, even if you end up disagreeing. If you haven’t been doing this, now’s the time!
Showing that you’re listening more closely and empathetically can help others open up in ways they previously did not feel comfortable enough to do. You never know what you could find out. Perhaps one reason why your teammate is so slow to return the work you assign to them is that you aren’t guiding them quite as efficiently as you thought you were.
3. You’ll find your balance between self-care and hard work.
Have you ever volunteered to work extra hours to contribute to a project despite your gut subtly nagging you to go home, then later regretting it due to the toll it took on your physical or mental health?
Being more in tune with your own emotions, even if they’re subtle, will help you make better decisions that benefit you in the long term. Of course, you can’t just slack off forever -- it’s important to navigate the balance between working hard while taking care of yourself. The more you work to understand yourself, the closer you’ll get to finding where that balance lies.
4. You’ll better communicate your feelings in general.
For a myriad of reasons, we don’t always communicate everything we feel. Sometimes we’re just too tired, cranky, embarrassed, or shy. Other people not fully understanding your feelings can hinder workplace collaboration, as they won’t best know how to satisfy your needs. Developing your EQ can help you understand why you aren’t as transparent and better navigate mental obstacles that stand in the way of your self-expression.
5. You’ll be more sensitive to subtle, non-verbal cues from others.
As stated, not everyone verbally communicates every word about their mood and intentions. Sometimes, we show our emotions through our body language and tone of voice rather than through words. While interacting with others, being more in touch with your feelings and theirs can help you detect subtle cues that there’s more to what they’re explicitly saying.
For example, nonverbal cues may convey that your teammate may not be as enthusiastic about staying after hours with you as they say they are. If it’s surely not necessary for them to stay, you can assure them that it isn’t an obligation or a demand. Heightened sensitivity to social cues can help you realize which comments are genuinely well-received and which aren’t as wanted as you thought.
6. Improve your conflict resolution.
No matter how much you love your coworkers, sometimes professional or interpersonal conflicts may arise. All the above can seriously help you navigate conflict resolution in more nuanced, calm, understanding, and productive ways. Being able to temper your own emotions, remain calm under pressure, and understand different or even opposing perspectives will help you develop more persuasive, convincing arguments and solutions.
A higher sense of empathy for others will help you reach solutions that don’t just benefit you, but also those around you. Caring more about your coworkers and customers’ satisfaction and well-being can also help you better respond to criticism.
Having a high EQ is incredibly important inside and outside of the office. What are some benefits you’ve seen resulting from a good EQ?
Let us know in the comments below or send us an email!
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About Stingray Advisory Group LLC: Stingray Advisory Group LLC is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a proud member of Local First and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We help businesses grow. By creating customized solutions, we empower businesses and entrepreneurs with the tools to further their development.
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