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Have you ever worked for an organization where there were plenty of managers or bosses with high Intelligence Quotients (IQ) but few with high Emotional Intelligence (EQ)? If you have, it may have been a struggle at times. A lack of emotional intelligence could even be the difference between a healthy or an unhealthy workplace.
Emotional intelligence in the workplace is often cited as a greater determinant for quality leadership than technical skills or pedigree.
Howard Gardner, professor of psychology at Harvard states “Your EQ is the level of your ability to understand other people, what motivates them and how to work cooperatively with them.”
By this definition alone, you can see how leaders who lack emotional intelligence in the workplace, may create an atmosphere that where they have difficulty connecting to employees in a deeper, empathic manner.
The Five Elements of Emotional Intelligence
Anyone who undertakes an exploration of emotional intelligence will eventually come across the Daniel Goleman. His books, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ and Working with Emotional Intelligence, helped develop the concepts of emotional intelligence in the workplace.
Goleman believes that the more one can foster, or enhance each element, the higher one’s emotional intelligence becomes.
Self-awareness
Leaders who have self-awareness, understand what they do well and where they can stand to improve themselves. They know how their actions can affect co-workers. And most importantly, they behave with a sense of humility.
Self-regulation
Leaders who regulate themselves understand that rapid emotional decisions, a rush to judgement, or immediately assuming the worst of a person is the quickest way to lose control. Without control, a leader loses the ability to lead effectively.
Motivation
Self-motivated leaders put their money where their mouth is. They lead by example, have extremely high standards for all, and a superior quality to their work.
Empathy
When a leader can put themselves in another’s shoes, they are able to understand, to listen, and to connect with others. This ability earns the loyalty and respect of those around you.
Social Skills
Leaders who communicate well are experts at motivating and supporting their team. They can also manage change and conflict very well.
Do You Have Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
David Cory from The Emotional Training Company, Inc. penned a fascinating article, which may have provided a simple way to determine if you have emotional intelligence in the workplace.
To determine your level of emotional intelligence, understand the difference between intention and impact.
Understanding the difference between intention and impact is critical to the understanding that you judge yourself by your intentions; you judge others by the result or impact of their actions.
Here is a workplace example of this phenomenon. If you are late to work, you understand why you were late and how you busted your tail end to get to work on time. When one of your direct reports is late, you assume the worst: She doesn’t follow rules; she is lazy; she needs to fix her priorities. You attribute to this report a false intention. You harbor a double standard.
If you judge yourself by your intention, use your communication skills and empathy to determine what your direct report’s intention was when she showed up late.
This requires you use all five of Goleman’s elements above. It also requires you to look inside and determine whether you are one of those who have or do not have emotional intelligence in the workplace.
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