Emotional Intelligence
A Critical Scorecard for Productive Employees
In the book “Coaching for Performance” the author John Whitmore said Emotional Intelligence is twice as important as IQ for performance in the workplace. For example, an individual’s habit of choosing to identify and manage their responses to key moments in the daily routines and helping others respond correctly by example and encouragement matters. The practice of high emotional intelligence promotes effective communication with employees, allows for productive teamwork, and encourages an overall heathier and more focused work environment.
Even though emotions can be hard to control in our day-to-day lives, it is possible. In fact, it is essential to understand and practice emotional intelligence. As an employee it just may impact whether you are hired by a company or released and replaced with someone that has an understanding an application of emotional intelligence.
The belief and practice of emotional intelligence in the workplace has been accentuated in the past few years. Career Builder, a resource for employers provides data to improve employee performance. Companies are investing training hiring managers of the importance of valuing emotional intelligence over IQ. These companies stress the importance of emotional intelligence. Many employers today would not hire someone with a high IQ and low emotional intelligence. As far as the comparison between IQ and emotional intelligence hiring managers said they would choose the candidate with high emotional intelligence over IQ based on an improved work environment alone which increases performance throughout their organization.
Common characteristics of highly emotional intelligence people?
- ABILITY TO HANDLE PRESSURE – The workplace can often be stressful, which can increase our emotions and decrease our ability to perform our jobs effectively. Emotional intelligent individuals tend to be able to handle pressure because they have developed coping mechanisms to manage the key moments in their lives.
- COLLABORATIVE AND UNDERSTANDING – It is extremely important for individuals to be able to work with others and contribute to a strong teamwork environment. People with strong emotional intelligence are more likely to be able to work with a varied range of people, which is more important today than ever before.
- EMPATHETIC – Emotional intelligent individuals are more likely to focus on the task at hand, rather than letting their own emotions hinder their determined purposes. As a result, they can be sensitive to other’s emotions, which in turn leads to trust and unity.
- ENCOURAGING INFLUENCE TO FOLLOW – Emotionally intelligent people are good influences in the workplace for their co-workers, due to their calm and professional nature. They possess the ability to remain engaged while gaining respect and admiration from the others.
- ATTENTIVE & OPEN TO FEEDBACK – Emotional intelligent people can control their reactions appropriately and they are typically more inclined to actively listen to feedback. They also possess the skill to accept feedback to improve oneself, rather than letting their emotions take center stage.
It is no wonder why so many companies are placing such an emphasis on hiring individuals with high emotional intelligence.
The above characteristics are not only positive attributes for your new hires but are key for team development and a cultural environment that is far more productive and efficient.
Emotions are more than feelings that we experience in life. They are essential to our happiness, our work performance, our relationships, and our overall well-being.
Coaching provides training in interviewing for highly emotional intelligent employees. The benefit is performance improvement to give companies a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
As you see wisdom for becoming more Emotionally Intelligent, you will find the Bible is full of wisdom literature from Provers and Psalms. I like to call these books pillars of real intelligence. A roadmap filled with performance improvement nuggets.
