An employee with a high EI can manage his or her own impulses, communicate with others effectively, manage change well, solve problems, and use humour to build rapport in tense situations. These employees also have empathy and remain optimistic even when faced with difficulty and have composure in stressful and chaotic situations.

Invest in EI

Companies that have excellent leadership usually employ managers with a high EI. This means that leaders are able to understand and facilitate emotion in the workplace by displaying the correct type of emotions in certain situations however challenging.

Managers with a high EI are able to stay calm under pressure and are compassionate, empathetic and excellent motivators. These managers have the ability to regulate their emotions, meaning they do not over-react to issues and are calm in the face of challenging situations.

Have no fear...

You can develop your EI even if you are not born with it. Initially, the first step is to understand the emotions of an individual accurately. In most cases, this will involve recognising body language and facial expressions and it is important to understand that all individuals change their approach depending on the people they meet.

Self-awareness - it's important

Employees today are much more aware of whether or not they are a good fit in their workplace culture and they want their leaders to be more mindful of their needs. If a person is self-aware, they understand their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as how their actions may affect others.

Remember... self-regulation 

Emotional self-regulation is the ability to respond to the ongoing demands in certain situations with a range of emotions, in a manner that is socially acceptable and flexible to allow for spontaneous reactions as well as the ability to delay spontaneous reactions as needed.

Beware!

Blind spots. These are weaknesses leaders can’t see in themselves, even though they are evident to everyone around them. For example, a leader may think he is a creative problem solver, yet others may see him recycling the same ideas.

Become a self motivator 

Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivators. They are usually resilient and optimistic when they encounter disappointment and have an inner ambition. Most employees need motivation to feel good about their jobs and perform optimally. Some employees are money motivated while others find recognition and rewards by personally motivating.

Develop empathy

A person who has empathy and compassion allows them to connect with other people on an emotional level. The ability to empathise allows a person to respond genuinely to others’ concerns. Empathy is the experience of understanding another person's emotions from their perspective - You ultimately place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling.

Soft skills approach

People who are emotionally intelligent are able to build rapport and trust quickly with others on their teams by understanding themselves and moderating their responses. Talking effectively and empathising accurately, building relationships of trust, respect and productive interactions all come together to generate emotional intelligence.

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