The phrase “emotional intelligence” has been the topic of discussion in the workplace for many years. Having a strong sense of what emotional intelligence actually means can strengthen one’s work ethic and make for a positive work environment. So what does emotional intelligence mean, exactly? Most definitions will say that emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize different behaviors, moods, and characteristics of ourselves and others, and being able to cope with those situations in an appropriate manner. Jeffrey Royer stresses that “emotional intelligence not only contributes to successful careers and relationships, but deficiencies in basic emotional abilities can leans to poor mental and physical health.” (Royer, 1996). Emotional intelligence requires empathy, understanding, and self-awareness. If we are in a work environment where other individuals are involved, we are also dealing with other personalities and emotions. Being able to effectively and confidently adapt and manage emotions while in the workplace may be a difficult task to take on, but will prove beneficial and rewarding in the grand scheme of things.
Emotions play an important role in how we are as humans. The way we manage our emotions will directly affect others around us in our work environments. Karin Applegate, Aysegul Timur, and Karen Locklear make it imperative that emotional intelligence is necessary. “Recognizing the importance for management to retain employees who are emotionally intelligent is critical in developing an environment that is conducive to employees.” (Applegate, Timur, & Locklear, 2009, 43). Having positive skills in emotional intelligence typically leads to higher performance rates in the workplace. People who have emotional intelligence will naturally become more effective leaders. Daniel Goleman, a psychologist who focused greatly on the study of emotional intelligence, said, “If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” (Hughes, Goleman researched and focused on emotional intelligence and its importance in the workplace. He came up with five major qualities and traits that define and detail emotional intelligence. The next few paragraphs will go into detail on Goleman’s perspectives.
The first quality of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. Self-awareness is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “an awareness of one’s own personality or individuality.” Those who are self-aware are able to recognize their abilities and actions in an honest and truthful manner, and look at their lives in an objective manner. An individual who is self-aware can recognize their emotions and is capable of managing them in a work environment. In an article titled Developing and Applying Emotional Intelligence, Debbie Schacter noted the importance of being self-aware in a work environment when it comes to making work-related decisions. “The role of emotional intelligence in decision making is now also understood to be important, leading to more value being placed upon personal competencies in the areas of self-awareness and self-regulation.” (Schachter, 2009, 49). It is important to recognize that everyone is human and therefore, will experience outside stress and difficult situations. Being able to handle these stresses internally without suffering in the workplace will benefit not only that individual, but also those around them.
The next trait Goleman presents is the ability to manage a mood or emotion. This quality is directly correlated with being a self-aware individual. When we are going through particularly difficult situations, it is imperative to be realistic and positive, especially when we are at work. We have to manage our stress in order to be emotionally intelligent human beings. Along with managing stress is the ability to maintain a level of self-control in emotional situations. When there is a disruption in the day or an uncomfortable situation occurs, the level of intelligence we have emotionally will matter.
Motivation is another important key to healthy emotional intelligence. It is important to make achievable goals. In this day and age, there is very little job security. With that said, individuals who show a high level of self-motivation and initiative will go far. Showing the readiness to jump on any opportunities without being asked to shows immense levels of emotional intelligence. It also shows a level of commitment to a place of work.
The final two traits to have for positive levels of emotional intelligence are that of empathy and handling other relationships. Being empathetic is often forgot about in the workplace. We often forget that other people are going through life situations outside of the workplace. Showing empathy is having the ability to understand and relate to the needs and wants of others. It is important and rewarding to be aware of others’ feelings and concerns. By achieving this, we are actively showing an interest in those around us. It is often forgotten that we are spending a large amount of time not only with friends and family, but with people we work with. We have a great opportunity to build those relationships by showing empathy and consideration.
In an articled written by Mike Poskey called The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, having well-rounded skills was largely stressed. He focused on several businesses that were successful because of their focus on emotional intelligence. Job turnover was reduced in a large hospital after an emotional intelligence screening was incorporated. Fortune 500 companies were able to yield better results after introducing emotional intelligence education to their employees. “All of these cases are starting to prove the value of having highly emotionally intelligent employees make up your workforce if you want a competitive advantage in this highly competitive business world.” (Poskey). Having skills related to being emotional intelligent are noticed in the workplace. It is essential to not only have the necessary skills to be successful in your prospective job, but to also be highly skilled emotionally. Working with people means working with emotions, so we need to be capable of dealing with anything that is thrown our way.
I was very intrigued by all the information I found by researching emotional intelligence, but felt as if I was lacking some more personal results. Because of this, I decided to list some questions and scenarios to take to my co-workers. I currently work for Aveda, and I am one of seven employees (all being female) in our specific store. We are all very close since we are spending so much time together every week. As a result, we are also sharing personal life experiences, struggles, and emotional stresses. I felt that by asking these questions and sharing some scenarios, it would encourage us to strive to a higher balance of emotional intelligence that would benefit each one of us, including our customers. And since we know that people who are emotionally competent tend to be more successful and perform better, I felt that discussing these thoughts and ideas would encourage my co-workers as well.
For my method of research, I came up with a set of questions pertaining to outside stress, conflict management and resolution, and difficult emotional scenarios. It seemed as though the results for all the women I work with was very similar. Everyone felt that being emotionally intelligent would make for a more successful and well-rounded employee, as well as someone in a leadership position. Most of the women ranked empathy high in how we relate to each other. Everyone was on the same page about the levels of balance we should have as emotionally intelligent people. I received positive feedback about incorporating education about emotional intelligence and how it could be used to benefit every employee.
Emotional intelligence is crucial to making any company or business successful. Working with other individuals and other personalities can be a difficult task, but learning the right ways to communicate will benefit everyone. Goleman stresses the importance of being well rounded in the five qualities of successful emotional intelligence. Self-awareness is having the ability to identify an emotion when it is happening. It is the ability to know oneself honestly and truthfully. The next quality is the ability to manage oneself. It is the idea that we have the power to keep emotions and inclinations in check. It is also our ability to adapt to any situation and handle change. Goleman states the next trait is motivation, which is where our goals and achievements lie. Our desire to meet certain personal and career goals comes directly from how we can motivate ourselves. Empathy is an important trait that helps us understand and relate to those around us. We are not only aware of our personal issues and abilities, but we are gaining a sense of the needs and desires of others. The last quality listed is having a basic set of social skills, or being able to relate to one another. Being able to communicate effectively and being open and honest with others is key to working in any sort of work environment.
Having these characteristics as personality traits not only in the workplace, but also in every day situations, will encourage growth and leaderships skills. It is crucial in this day and age of competition and recession that we are highly skilled in not only our craft, but also our emotions. Being able to show a high level of adaptability and empathy will aid us in standing out in the job market.
References
Applegate, K., Timur, A., & Locklear, K.. (2009). Linking Self-Perception and Emotional Intelligence. The Business Review, Cambridge, 13(1), 43-52. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1778504631).
Hughes, D. (n.d.). Interview with Daniel Goleman. Retrieved from http://www.shareguide.com/Goleman.htm
Poskey, M.G. (n.d.). The importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. Retrieved from http://www.hodu.com/EQ.shtml
Royer , J.S. (1996). Emotional intelligence and the work place. Retrieved from http://agecon.unl.edu/royer/emotions.htm
Schachter, D.. (2009, July). Developing and Applying Emotional Intelligence. Information Outlook, 13(5), 49-50. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1850585481).
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