Emotional Intelligence Training in the Workplace

Providing Emotional Intelligence training in the workplace would enable organizations to have better communication with their employees and learn new ways to recognize the emotions of their staff.  By being aware of the characteristics of emotional intelligence and applying them, the performance of the organizations would improve drastically.

Self-Awareness

Self-Awareness is the cornerstone that supports all of the other Emotional Intelligence competencies.  It must come first because if we do not know ourselves and what we are feeling, how can we possibly know or understand the emotions of those around us.  The more we know about ourselves, the better we are able to control and choose the kind of behaviors we will display in a work setting.

Without self-awareness, our emotions can blind us and guide us to do things or to become people we really do not want to be.  If we are aware of our feelings and thoughts, we can choose how we will act or react in a given situation or to a certain person.

Self-Regulation 

Self-regulation helps to regulate our feelings and manage them so they do more good than harm.  Our passions can be contagious and energize others, but our complaining can damage work relations beyond repair.  Being able to check our emotions with self-regulation can help to cool down our emotions.  

When angry, our emotions can get the best of us and because of that, we cannot make good decisions, making us act inappropriately.  By being able to manage our emotions, we become more adaptable in stressful situations.

Self-Motivation 

Self-motivation is about visualizing a goal and taking the necessary steps to get there.  We must be able to psych ourselves up and motivate ourselves to reach your goal.  Being persistent will help to attain our goal, despite any obstacle that may come our way.  

Empathy  

Empathy is being able to see from another person’s perspective.  Acknowledging other people’s emotions, whether it is sad, angry, happy, or confused, can help us gain an understanding to what is going on around us. 

Empathy must first begin with listening and responding to what others are feeling.  This is especially important for managers to help them understand the emotions of their employees. 

 

Effective Relationships 

When self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, and empathy are mastered successfully, effective relationships can be attained.  Effective relationships allow managers to be better communicators as well as better collaborators because of their new learned social skills.  Managers are better able to manage disputes and communicate with their employees, making the working atmosphere that much better to be a part of. 

Emotional intelligence training would allow managers to learn how to perceive their employees and ultimately learn how to manage the relationship between them more effectively.  They would also benefit in learning this training by learning how to read their employees and have a better relationship with them in the end.  Knowing when their employees are having a bad day or are struggling with a work issue would be helpful to a manager who has struggled trying to figure out an employee.  Managers would be able to be empathetic with employee and not jump in to judge others, but to listen and understand them. 

In some cases, employees have a hard time communicating with their managers due to a lack of empathy or a lack of self-awareness that their managers portray.  Oftentimes, managers do not perceive that there are department issues until it is too late.  Managers must learn to have an open relationship with their employees and be able to communicate with them so that they can feel acknowledged and validated. 

Training would also allow managers to have a dialogue with their employees rather than giving orders to individuals.  They would learn how to be empathetic and recognize the wants and needs of employees around them, making the work environment pleasant and productive.

According to Six Seconds, the world’s largest network of emotional intelligence experts, it indicates that “business becomes more complex with globalization and the accelerating pace of innovation, the value - and necessity - of "emotionally intelligent leaders" is gaining ground.  A growing body of evidence shows that the ability to be smarter with one's feelings is tied to improved leadership, relationships, decision-making health and well-being; all of which help higher EQ leaders create greater economic and societal value.”  (Business Wire, 2013)

Research has also indicated that in health care industries, patients are more likely to follow the advice of their physicians and nurses because of how they were communicate to, based on their emotional intelligence training they received in their former years.  (Business Wire, 2013).

Emotional Intelligence training in the workplace would help increase performance and raise productivity.  Engagement between managers and their employees will allow open and honest communication, which in turn, will allow managers to keep learning about themselves and their employees.  An inspiring work environment will be created allowing brainstorming to take place in a safe environment.

Additionally, managers will be able to listen for nonverbal cues, enhancing their empathy techniques and being able to see the other person’s perspective.  It is necessary to manage emotions rather than letting your emotions control you.

Emotional intelligence training in the workplace is vital for organization to succeed and to enable organizations to have better communication with their employees.  Managers fail primarily because of their inability to handle change, their inability to work in a team, and poor interpersonal relationships.  The only way to succeed is to learn it and live it.

Business Wire (2013).  Emotional intelligence movement comes of age: Six seconds says companies that leverage "EQ" training save money, gain a happier, more productive workforce. (2013, Apr 23).  Business Wire. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1335065350?accountid=32521

PR News Wire (2013).  New research shows emotional intelligence improves organizational climate and bottom-line performance, presented at Harvard University in June. (2013, Apr 04). PR Newswire. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1323330681?accountid=32521

Roebuck, D.B. (2006).  Improving Business Communication Skills (4^th ed.).  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.