Emotional Intelligence at Work: 5 Ways to Foster Employee Growth and Success

Knowing how to regulate yourself leads to better teamwork and communication. Unregulated stress can affect anyone’s personal life; it also impacts one’s ability to work proactively and well with those around them. Emotional intelligence in the workplace is crucial for building a productive and harmonious work environment. But what is emotional intelligence? It’s the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as effectively perceive and respond to the emotions of others. Staff members that don’t possess a healthy level of emotional intelligence may become overwhelmed, make mistakes, lash out at coworkers, or make impulsive decisions that affect those around them. TalentSmartEQ is a provider of emotional intelligence training and development, certification, assessments, and coaching. They conducted a research study and found that emotional intelligence is “the strongest predictor of performance” and backs the success of 58% of employees across all industries. TalentSmartEQ also concluded that 90% of top-performing employees score high in emotional intelligence. So what does emotional intelligence look like? Providing constructive criticism over rude remarks and personal criticism The ability to keep calm in high-stress situations Resolving conflicts in an appropriate manner An environment that supports open communication Acknowledging coworkers’ emotions and helping them work through it Here are five ways that you can grow emotional intelligence amongst your employees and even yourself. 1. Provide training Offer training programs and workshops focused on emotional intelligence. These sessions can help employees understand and develop their emotional intelligence skills, such as self-awareness, empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution. You don’t even have to personally create these programs. There are groups such as Blue EQ that can provide detailed assessments and learning tools and resources for your workplace. 2. Encourage open communication Create a culture that encourages open and honest communication. Bosses should actively listen to their employees, value their opinions, and provide constructive feedback. Having this open dialogue gives employees the comfort and space to be able to express their emotions, frustrations, and ideas. This leads to a healthier and more trusting work environment. 3. Address conflict constructively Teach employees effective conflict resolution strategies and encourage them to approach conflicts with empathy and a problem-solving mindset. Nothing is likely to be accomplished if those involved in a conflict approach the problem with a closed mind and a disregard for the other side's concerns. Bosses can mediate conflicts when needed which helps promote a culture of respectful disagreement and resolution. 4. Don’t disregard the importance of work-life balance Recognize the need for work-life balance and support employees in managing their personal and professional lives. Flexible work arrangements, wellness programs, and stress management initiatives can help employees maintain their well-being and reduce stress levels. At the very least, do your best to respect time-off requests, personal emergencies, and the fact that employees may not always be able to pick up a shift last minute. Questioning employees on their outside-of-work needs can lead to feelings of distrust and frustration. 5. Lead by example Bosses should embody emotional intelligence themselves. They can demonstrate self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and effective communication in their interactions with employees. It’s best to listen actively, show genuine interest in employees' concerns, and provide empathetic support. Try to communicate openly and honestly, encouraging transparent yet respectful conversations. By demonstrating these behaviors, bosses set the stage for emotional intelligence in the workplace and inspire employees to use these skills themselves.

Emotional Intelligence at Work: 5 Ways to Foster Employee Growth and Success

Stay ahead of the news

Trending Topics

877-436-3307

info@gemjournaltoday.com