WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE HIGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN A LEADER?
Emotional intelligence has been the topic of significant text. In fact, a quick Google search returns almost 40 million results for the term! Clearly, this concept has gained a great deal of support, and leadership situations are valuing it more and more. This article will define emotional intelligence and explain why empathic leadership is essential.
What is the definition of emotional intelligence?
According to Psychology Today, emotional intelligence refers to the capacity to recognize and manage one's own and others' emotions. According to Wikipedia, emotional intelligence is the capacity to perceive, utilize, comprehend, manage, and control emotions.
Emotionally intelligent individuals are self-reflective and consider taking the time to determine what they are feeling and why, as opposed to simply reacting instinctively when they feel something. Someone with emotional intelligence does not automatically point the finger at a coworker who has let them down. Instead, they pause to consider the other person's perspective and investigate the motivations behind their actions.
The term, which is frequently shortened to "EQ," was coined by psychologists in the 1960s. It was based on Abraham Maslow's 1950s concept of "emotional strength." Although some components of emotional intelligence are innate, nearly all of us have the capacity to develop this skill (some people find it simpler to be empathic than others).
Emotional intelligence is comprised of five factors.
Emotional intelligence consists of five primary components. All of which are:
1. Self-Awareness
2. Self-Regulation
3. Motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social Skills
American psychologist Daniel Goleman popularized these five factors in his New York Times best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, which was a huge success.
People frequently refer to the last two items on this list when they discuss EQ. Let's examine these five components in detail.
Self-Awareness
To have this ability is to be aware of one's own feelings and what triggers them.
This is a form of "meta-awareness," or awareness of one's own awareness. A leader with a healthy sense of self-awareness can read and react to the environment around them. They're also picking up on their own patterns of thought and learning to identify the causes of their actions. Those who have a healthy understanding of their own emotions are confident in their own abilities but also able to honestly evaluate their own flaws. They are able to poke fun at their own mistakes. Without letting it consume them, they can evaluate objectively how others view them.
A leader who has self-awareness is not easily offended and can take criticism in stride.
Because it encourages people to sit with their own feelings, let them come to consciousness, name them, and then let them go, mindfulness can be a helpful way to increase self-awareness. It might be easier to understand how you feel in the future if you take the time to identify your feelings while you're still awake.
Motivation
It is the natural inclination toward growth and perfection.
Success in this area of emotional intelligence is not solely dependent on wealth and social standing. Enhancing one's leadership skills merits recognition on its own. A leader with true emotional intelligence is always looking to improve their work, is aware of the latest developments in their field, and is willing to share what they've learned with their team.
When framed differently, inspiration is extremely important to success. Every thriving business owner has learned the hard way the importance of maintaining enthusiasm even when setbacks occur. Each and every successful entrepreneur has had to learn the hard way the importance of maintaining motivation even when things aren't going as planned.
Understanding that setbacks are inevitable learning experiences is crucial. In addition, it reinforces your capacity to bounce back from setbacks.
A hunger for knowledge is also critical, as it keeps leaders abreast of changes and trends in their field. Leaders who are themselves self-improvers tend to be the most inspiring because their followers want to emulate their success.
Empathy
Perception of other people's emotions
A lack of empathy was once seen as a weakness. When workers were told to "pull their socks up" and get to work, leadership showed a lack of compassion. Some corporate cultures, sadly, still hold on to this mentality, though thankfully, they are becoming increasingly rare.
Empathy is a quality that can flourish only after a person has developed a sense of self-awareness. Considering that we have a hard enough time understanding our own thoughts, it stands to reason that we wouldn't be able to decipher another person's mental processes either. In rejecting solipsism, empathy takes an objective look at how other people are feeling and acting, just as we do with our own emotions and actions.
Empathetic leadership is useful for both the manager and the employee. By assisting managers in recognizing the first signs of discontent among their staff, this method not only reduces conflict but also improves morale, promotes a healthier workplace, and can drastically lessen the likelihood of burnout.
It's not hard to imagine that when employees feel they are being heard and valued by their employer, they will have a more positive outlook on their job. Compassionate leadership has been shown to boost productivity and even decrease absences. The number of companies that provide wellness programs for their workers has increased significantly over the past few years as an expression of their desire to be more caring employers.
Social Skills
Having the ability to connect with others on a meaningful level.
Lastly, a leader's popularity has nothing to do with this aspect of emotional intelligence. That depends on how sensitive they are to nonverbal cues in social interactions. A manager with excellent interpersonal skills, for instance, would know not to take a joke about them personally. They would have the self-awareness to politely decline their own invitation to a company party.
Leaders who are empathetic are better able to address their followers' needs and defuse tense situations. Even if you were unhappy with the meal, a waiter with excellent people skills could make you want to spread the word about the restaurant.
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