Making Use of Your Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Have you ever heard the expression, “read the room” being used before? Often, it’s used when someone blunders into a situation and acts in a way that’s totally out of sync with the prevailing mood. They fail to pick up on the non-verbal and verbal cues given by others and respond inappropriately to what is being said and done. Failing to read the room can make you feel isolated and lost in social interactions.

Being able to read situations and respond appropriately is important not only in social settings but at the workplace as well. There are many interpersonal interactions in the workplace that involve being aware of others and knowing how to respond well to accomplish your goals.

Emotional intelligence explained

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability that people have to understand and manage their own emotions. The other aspect of emotional intelligence is having an awareness of others’ emotions and being able to communicate with and relate to them in an effective and constructive manner.

People have a wide array of emotions that can be triggered by specific experiences or thoughts. Knowing how to control your emotions is important because sometimes they need to be reined in. It’s also important to know how to express your emotions, as they reveal what’s going on inside of you, including what you need. Others are also emotional beings, so you need to be able to understand, interpret, and respond appropriately to their emotions too.

Just as with other skills, a person can grow in their ability to manage and express their own emotions, as well as make sense of and respond meaningfully to the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is helpful in a variety of circumstances, including in the workplace. There are many benefits to having and using emotional intelligence, and some of these include the following:

Being more self-aware

An emotionally intelligent person is aware of what others are feeling and how it might affect them. Not only that, but they are also aware of what they are feeling and understand what could be contributing to their emotional state. This self-awareness enables a person to be more intentional in addressing their needs instead of being reactive in situations.

Being more measured

Having greater awareness of and control over your own emotions means being able to measure your response before acting. Emotions can be powerful, and given their way, you can make egregious mistakes and say or do things you regret afterward. Slowing down and giving a measured response, for instance, by not responding immediately in anger to being treated unfairly can help calm things down.

Exercising empathy

Other people have emotions, as well. An emotionally intelligent person understands that others will have feelings about what’s going on, and they will have life experiences and perspectives that inform those feelings. Being aware of what might inform other’s actions and considering how you might respond in the same situation is at the heart of empathy. Empathy helps guide our response to others.

The value of emotional intelligence at work

As you can imagine, being at work involves more than simply performing certain tasks or having particular technical skills. While technical skills are important and necessary to get the job done, there is also a relational element. This relational element is crucial when it comes to interacting with coworkers or managing teams. Knowing how to read the room as you talk with colleagues or try to inspire your team is a necessary skill to possess.

If you are unable to recognize or understand other people’s emotions, and if you’re unable to respond effectively to those emotions, that lack of emotional intelligence often results in misunderstandings and conflict in the workplace. Using your emotional intelligence in the workplace can be helpful in several ways, including the following:

Managing conflict and communication well

For the workplace to run smoothly, people need to understand what they’re supposed to be doing, where the responsibility lies, and the motivation for doing that work. Emotional intelligence helps you determine the most effective way to get the message across, as well as in conflict management when it is required.

Creating team cohesion

One of the worst things that a worker and team member can experience is for them to not feel seen or heard. An emotionally intelligent person can discern the concern behind what people say or do, and they can pick up if there’s a problem in specific relationships that needs to be addressed. When team members feel heard and their concerns are addressed, it paves the way for a more cohesive team.

Making wiser decisions

If a person cannot regulate their own emotions, they might make impulsive decisions when they ought to put more thought into them. Impulsive decisions in the workplace could mean expensive mistakes and jeopardize the integrity of the organization.

More productive teams

If a person is leading a team, or if they’re pursuing a project by themselves, having emotional intelligence can help them see themselves more objectively. When you see yourself more or less objectively, you can more readily and with humility see your weaknesses and strengths for what they are. You can set realistic targets, and boost morale while providing a good challenge.

A happier work environment

When a leader sees his people and makes the effort to see where they’re at and what they need, those people feel valued and appreciated for the work they are doing. When people are feeling appreciated, that can in turn help them to be more productive in their various tasks.

Having and applying emotional intelligence can make a huge difference in the workplace. The good news is that while some people may naturally have a greater deal of emotional intelligence, it’s a skill that can be developed over time and with practice.

Building your emotional intelligence

motional intelligence is a skill that can

e built over time. One of the ways to

egin doing this is by recognizing how

emotional intelligence can be used in various ways in daily life. You can practice your emotional intelligence by learning to say “no” when needed, by learning to listen to others with empathy when they speak, by not being judgmental of others, by accepting criticism and moving on when you mess up, and by sharing your feelings with others.

Some practices that you can consider implementing to help build emotional intelligence include thinking about your own weaknesses and strengths, which allows you to know when to offer or ask for help from others. You can also intentionally slow down and pay attention to how you or the other person are reacting in a given situation and try to understand why you feel the way you do.

You can also pay attention to the non-verbal cues that people give when you’re engaging with them. These cues include facial expressions, tone of voice, and body posture. When you develop awareness about these cues, you can move toward them and validate any concerns they may have. Take time to also reflect on how your emotions affect how you think and behave, and how they might affect others.

Listening is another important skill that can help with developing emotional intelligence. Effective listening involves being fully present with someone, so much so that they leave the conversation feeling seen and heard. It includes asking clarifying questions, not jumping to conclusions, and making sure you’re not distracted while talking to the other person.

Emotional intelligence is a necessary skill that helps you manage yourself and your emotions well. It also helps you respond to the emotions of others in appropriate ways, which has a huge impact on your personal and work relationships.

If you need guidance about how to develop your emotional intelligence, you can speak to a counselor or a life coach who can help you understand yourself better and learn how to deal effectively with emotions. Give our office a call today.