Being attentive to immediate environments and people can magnify internal experiences that can be beneficial for overall health of the organization
How often do we see doctors prescribing medicines not merely out of diagnosis but also through self experience? Say which doctor you will prefer out of the following two:
Dr. X saying "I advise you ABC medicine as this works best for the kind of diagnosis you have". He scribbles the prescription and hands it over to you instinctively and retorts "Next".
Dr. Y saying "Oh dear! I understand your pain very well, my cousin had a similar problem few years ago and he changed his lifestyle slightly along with his regular dose of PQR medicine, though ABC is the most recommended but that has severe side effects, let me tell you"!
No, I am not waiting for an answer, I know already as many studies have proved that. In the latter, one clearly sees the doctor applying his self experience along with his awareness, knowledge and qualifications to bring the best results in his patient. This is a trait he has put to use and demonstrated a good example of emotional intelligence which arguably, we now see as rarity in the given profession.
Emotion is both a trait and emotion. Going by its literal use, Emotional Intelligence (EI) should mean 'being intelligent about its use'. It is not as simple as it seems when put to observations and learning especially in a corporate set up.
Picture a normal working day in office, you meet and observe different characters like a fire-breathing dragon manager who is only interested in the bottom line, an Alice in wonderland kind of a sub-ordinate who has misplaced your important file, a Pinocchio kind of a colleague who lies to top management to only bring you down, a Pandora like HR manager who rants incessantly about impossibilities and inflexibilities when you discuss bringing about a change in work processes, and the list can go on and on. But are you well equipped to handle all the pressure that comes with handling emotions, firstly your own.
It is only natural and human that occasionally we find ourselves incapable of managing our emotions as per a conflicting or a very dynamic situation. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a critical factor. How one understands and manages emotions and interacts with emotions of others around influences everyone's experiences and outcomes. It helps in navigating the social environment well and manifests itself in certain adaptive behaviors.
Emotional intelligence (EI) or emotional quotient (EQ) is the ability of individuals to recognize their own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior. The term gained prominence in the 1995 book authored by EI.Goleman. It is studied that people with high EI have greater mental health, exemplary job performance, and more potent leadership skills. For example, Goleman's research in his book, Working with Emotional Intelligence, indicated that EI accounted for 67% of the abilities deemed necessary for superior performance in leaders, and mattered twice as much as technical expertise or IQ.
The model introduced by Daniel Goleman focuses on EI as a wide array of learned competencies and skills and not merely as innate talents, hence these competencies are acquired to drive leadership performance. Goleman's model outlines five main EI constructs which every leader must work on:
1. Self-awareness - the ability to know one's emotions, strengths, weaknesses, drives values and goals and recognizes their impact on others while using gut feelings to guide decisions.
2. Self-regulation - involves controlling or redirecting one's disruptive emotions and impulses and adapting to changing circumstances.
3. Social skill - managing relationships to move people in the desired direction
4. Empathy - considering other people's feelings especially when making decision
5. Motivation - being driven to achieve for the sake of achievement.
As per neurosciences, the limbic system in our brains that houses our emotions guides every decision we take and every interaction or relationship we nurture. Limbic resonance is described as a symphony of mutual and internal adaptation whereby two mammals become attuned to each other's inner states. This is an unconscious and internal process, a door to communal connection." It is the physical and mental process that provides individuals with a sense of compatibility when with one person or emotional hijacking when with another. The crux is, emotions are contagious; we catch them, and we spread them and therefore it is important we guide them well.
Emotional Intelligence as ability is measured in terms of a wholesome personality in addition to general intelligence. This means, that leaders' emotional style drives everyone else's disposition and behavior which is as contagious. Hence, Dr. X appears mechanical and somewhat misgiving while Dr.Y becomes your favorite and perhaps your lifelong mate. He could see your mind or relate well while the former did not or could not nor did he care, he lacked what is termed as mindsight.
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