Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

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Believe it or not, emotions play a very important role in the workplace.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is, in simple terms, the intelligent use of emotions: making your emotions work for you by using them to guide your thinking and behavior. Applications of emotional intelligence in the workplace are endless. Conflict management, tension between co-workers, satisfying a difficult customer, managers who bully, power struggles, negotiations, competition, resistance to change and many other situations are just a few examples of how EQ shows up in the workplace. (Adapted from the book "Emotional Intelligence at Work" by Hendries Weisinger, Ph.D.)|

Have you witnessed people losing their temper or saying inappropriate comments or becoming overwhelmed with stress? Individuals with highly developed EQ have learned how to manage these situations in a way that maintains personal health and respects others. The key word here is ‘learned’.  It is believed that EQ skills can be developed long into adulthood.

There are two basic aspects to understanding EQ.

  1. Intrapersonal EQ – how one develops and uses his/her own emotional intelligence. This includes self awareness and managing one’s emotions in the workplace.
  2. Interpersonal EQ – how one enhances his/her relationships with others; developing more effective communications skills and interpersonal awareness.

Tip - If you are thinking to yourself right now that this information is hogwash and doesn’t apply to YOU, be careful.  Often those who assume they have no need to develop their own EQ skills are individuals who lack self awareness. 

Self Awareness is a fundamental building block of Emotional Intelligence.

  • Example - To be able to manage anger, one must be able to understand what triggers it and how it impacts behavior.  Only then can one learn to manage it appropriately and maintain self-control.
    • Not recognizing your anger at a client or colleague, you might raise your tone and/or make flip comments.  What is the result? Probably seriously derailing the relationship with the client or colleague – possibly jeopardizing your job. This is just a simple example.  Certainly managing our emotions can also be complex.  Your coach can help you increase your self awareness in many ways.
High self-awareness enables us to monitor ourselves, to observe ourselves in action. Self awareness helps us stay centered and it alerts us if we are moving in an inappropriate direction.

Please visit again soon - more information to come on Emotional Intelligence.

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