Employees with high emotional intelligence can better manage their emotions, communicate with others more effectively, manage change successfully, identify and resolve problems, and use humour to build rapport in difficult situations.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) helps to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, and of others. It allows a person to empathise with others thereby handling situations better. Various models and definitions have been proposed of which the EQ models are the most widely accepted in the scientific literature.
Instead of “reacting” due to emotions, emotional intelligence teaches you to “act” rationally even in emotional situations. While developing emotional intelligence sounds simple, most of us grow emotional and irrational when handling difficult people or situations, which results in the mishandling of a situation.
To develop EQ, you need to develop:
- Self-awareness
- Perspective
- Self-management
- Empathy
- Social skills
- Verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Social management
Training in emotional intelligence includes understanding of emotional intelligence, developing core skills required for building EQ, and the practice of concepts and techniques for controlling emotions and behaviour.
To effectively handle human resources, emotional intelligence is an essential skill. Developing this sensitivity towards other people and the environment helps to recognise problems in their infancy thereby minimising their damage. Emotional intelligence helps a person grow rational without becoming cold. It allows the recognition of others’ emotions and helps to control one’s own for the successful handling of people and situations.
As emotions determine our choices, it is important for the management and the team leaders to guide their workforce to make the choices that lead to growth for the person. It is, therefore, important to understand and channelise the emotions, priorities and choices of employees to help them realise their potential.