Emotional intelligence is one of the most underrated leadership skills in the workplace. With a little practice, you can hone your EI skills to build effective and successful teams, develop talent, and reduce stress in the workplace.
Emotionally intelligent people bring peace to conversations — they are the problem solvers and the managers that empower you. These are the coworkers that embrace change and can manage stress and pressure without creating a volatile environment for everybody around them.
On the other hand, we have all encountered coworkers with low emotional intelligence in the workplace. I am talking about the colleague whose name makes you wince, or to whom you hesitate when you need to ask a question. They might be great at their job, but interacting with them is an absolute pain. This colleague often responds aggressively or defensively to any problem — often wanting to blame others rather than find solutions.
Emotional Intelligence comes naturally to some, but for most of us, it requires cultivation and practice. And that starts with self-reflection and awareness. Now, we all have our grumpy days — but there are ways to pause in the moment and reflect so we can show up as our best selves.
When tensions run high …
Does this need to be said?
Does this need to be said by me?
Does this need to be said by me, right now?
As a manager or leader …
Who on my team needs encouragement?
Is this feedback constructive?
How do I celebrate the successes of others around me?
And when no one is looking …
How do I recover from failure?
How am I speaking to myself? Is the voice I am using kind?
Who do I look up to and have I told them?
It may be hard to remember these questions in the moment, so try reminding yourself with a note on your desk or a window on your desktop. Challenge yourself to address these questions for a month and note how your interactions improve. Others on your team might just follow your lead and improve their emotional intelligence, as well!