Emotional intelligence at office
Sep 05, 2010
WE are emotional beings, and all our actions and reactions are determined by our emotions. That is where emotional intelligence comes in. Emotional intelligence is not about being nice or being able to unleash our emotions.
HR INSIGHT - With Paula Kyabaggu Mukama
WE are emotional beings, and all our actions and reactions are determined by our emotions. That is where emotional intelligence comes in. Emotional intelligence is not about being nice or being able to unleash our emotions.
It is about being aware of our emotions and able to express feelings appropriately and effectively.
Effective management of emotions improves the quality of our decisions, thus making us more productive. Emotionally-balanced employees are empathetic, adaptable, self-aware, self-confident, transparent, optimistic, inspirational leaders and good at managing disagreements and stress.
With strong emotional intelligence, one can control, direct, lead and manage his or her own moods and impulses, and communicate with others effectively. Individuals with high emotional intelligence are good problem-solvers and decision-makers.
They can skillfully prioritise their task and quickly realise their goals. Emotional intelligence continues to grow and develop as it is largely a learned area of expertise.
Your emotional intelligence has a huge effect on how you work, how much personal satisfaction you can have in that work and how you contribute to the environment around you.
The term emotional intelligence was coined by Salovey and Mayer in 1990, however, it gained popularity after Daniel Goleman published his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ†in 1995.
Since then, the term has been used much more than ever. Emotions drive performance.Bosses who don’t acknowledge their own and others’ temperaments, can’t inspire the best work from their staffs, or even motivate themselves.
Goleman says the best remedy for battling our emotional shortcomings is prevention.
In other words, we need to place as much importance on teaching our children the essential skills of emotional intelligence as we do on more traditional measures like IQ and school exams.
And while we are at it, why not teach each other these vital life skills? It is never too late to improve your own emotional intelligence.
People struggling to cope with the emotional pressures of today’s workplace often resort to aggression, back-stabbing, gossiping, complaining and other purely childish behaviours.
And many in leadership positions are modeling these very behaviours! In short, organisations are tearing themselves apart from the inside-out.
Building emotional intelligence has a life-long impact. Many parents and educators, alarmed by increasing levels of conflict in young children, from low self-esteem to early drug and alcohol use or depression, are rushing to teach students the skills necessary for emotional intelligence.
The inclusion of emotional intelligence in companies’ training programmes has helped employees co-operate better and motivate themselves and each other more, thereby increasing productivity and profits. There are many studies that link emotional intelligence to productivity. This is because employees, who are in touch with their own emotions and mindful of the responses of others, are generally both content and good producers.
“Anyone can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way; that is not easy,†according to Aristotle’s Nicomachean ethics.
Send your questions and comments to: eresources@consultant.com
WE are emotional beings, and all our actions and reactions are determined by our emotions. That is where emotional intelligence comes in. Emotional intelligence is not about being nice or being able to unleash our emotions.
It is about being aware of our emotions and able to express feelings appropriately and effectively.
Effective management of emotions improves the quality of our decisions, thus making us more productive. Emotionally-balanced employees are empathetic, adaptable, self-aware, self-confident, transparent, optimistic, inspirational leaders and good at managing disagreements and stress.
With strong emotional intelligence, one can control, direct, lead and manage his or her own moods and impulses, and communicate with others effectively. Individuals with high emotional intelligence are good problem-solvers and decision-makers.
They can skillfully prioritise their task and quickly realise their goals. Emotional intelligence continues to grow and develop as it is largely a learned area of expertise.
Your emotional intelligence has a huge effect on how you work, how much personal satisfaction you can have in that work and how you contribute to the environment around you.
The term emotional intelligence was coined by Salovey and Mayer in 1990, however, it gained popularity after Daniel Goleman published his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ†in 1995.
Since then, the term has been used much more than ever. Emotions drive performance.Bosses who don’t acknowledge their own and others’ temperaments, can’t inspire the best work from their staffs, or even motivate themselves.
Goleman says the best remedy for battling our emotional shortcomings is prevention.
In other words, we need to place as much importance on teaching our children the essential skills of emotional intelligence as we do on more traditional measures like IQ and school exams.
And while we are at it, why not teach each other these vital life skills? It is never too late to improve your own emotional intelligence.
People struggling to cope with the emotional pressures of today’s workplace often resort to aggression, back-stabbing, gossiping, complaining and other purely childish behaviours.
And many in leadership positions are modeling these very behaviours! In short, organisations are tearing themselves apart from the inside-out.
Building emotional intelligence has a life-long impact. Many parents and educators, alarmed by increasing levels of conflict in young children, from low self-esteem to early drug and alcohol use or depression, are rushing to teach students the skills necessary for emotional intelligence.
The inclusion of emotional intelligence in companies’ training programmes has helped employees co-operate better and motivate themselves and each other more, thereby increasing productivity and profits. There are many studies that link emotional intelligence to productivity. This is because employees, who are in touch with their own emotions and mindful of the responses of others, are generally both content and good producers.
“Anyone can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way; that is not easy,†according to Aristotle’s Nicomachean ethics.
Send your questions and comments to: eresources@consultant.com