Why to Leverage Emotional Intelligence at Workplace

1. Have you ever wondered what separates the ultra-
successful people from not so successful people in
workplace? What it means to hold a job for a long
period of time, while also becoming successful at
anything that you are assigned to do? According, to a
study done by the Carnegie Institute of Technology, it
has very little to do with their education, technical
abilities, or special connections. Instead, their success
is a direct result of how they handle change, how much
of a team player they are, and how well they nurture
their interpersonal relationships. In other words, the
most successful people are those who possess a high
level of emotional intelligence.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Whenever you identify your emotions and then manage
them, you're exercising what is referred to as
'emotional intelligence.'
This requires Four Key factors:
 Self-Awareness – (Emotional Self-Awareness)
 Self-Management- (Emotional Self-Control,
Adaptability, Achievement Orientation and
Positive Attitude)
 Social Awareness - (Empathy and Social
Awareness)
 Relationship Management- (Influence, Coach,
Conflict Management, Teamwork, Inspiration
Leadership)
And the more effectively you can identify and manage
your emotions, the higher your level of emotional
intelligence. Not only is emotional intelligence
associated with the ability to manage your own
emotions, but also the ability to help others identify
and manage theirs.
Emotional Intelligence @ Workplace
When you consider how valuable emotional intelligence
can be, it comes as no surprise to learn that many
employers are starting to incorporate "emotional
quotient," or "EQ," as a metric in their hiring processes.
In fact, this quotient is often more valued than the
applicants' IQ. Why is this? Well, many of these
companies have found that individuals who have high
levels of emotional intelligence make better coworkers
and leaders.
For example,
individuals who
possess a high EQ
adapt to change very
well. No matter what
responsibilities are
given to them, they're
extremely flexible and
will do their best to
accommodate the
needs of the company.
They quite often have
backup plans for possible changes. High EQ individuals
are aware of and evaluate their strengths and weakness
so that they can use them to their advantage. They
know which environments they thrive in. Individuals
with high levels of emotional intelligence also know
how to neutralize toxic
situations in the
workplace. They are
able to identify difficult
people and navigate
their interactions with
them strategically and
mindfully. Their goal is
to find common
ground.
Contrarily, those who possess a low EQ can often
disrupt operations. For instance, low emotional
intelligence in the workplace often equates to
arguments. When an individual is unable or unwilling
to consider the feelings of others they could become
embroiled in disputes with their co-workers. Those
with low EQs have very little insight into how their own
emotions so when something goes wrong or a project
fails, they instinctually blame their teammates and play
Vinay Ravindran is an MBA Graduate from Indian Institute of Management-
Kozhikode (IIM-K) and currently spearheading the HR function of SG
Analytics Hyderabad delivery Centre.
Connect with him at Twitter: @vinayravindran1
Vinay Ravindran
Why to Leverage Emotional Intelligence at Workplace
High EQ individuals are
aware of and evaluate
their strengths and
weakness so that they
can use them to their
advantage. They know
which environments
they thrive in.
When you consider how
valuable emotional
intelligence can be, it
comes as no surprise to
learn that many
employers are starting to
incorporate "emotional
quotient," or "EQ," as a
metric in their hiring
processes.

2. the victim. They may also have a hard time taking
constructive criticism from their supervisors. And this
means they will remain stagnant in their position and
career.
Emotional Intelligence and Career Ladder
The link between emotional intelligence and the career
projection of the worker is further demonstrated in a
study published by
Professor Joseph C.
Rode, of Miami
University. Rode's
found that individuals
who have high
emotional intelligence
usually have higher
salaries than their
counterparts. Not
only is this due to
their being more
productive at work,
but also how they ask
for raises. It is
concluded that people
with a higher EQ know how to identify the right
moment to ask for a raise and how to deal with the
initial response.
Most companies would agree that the most beneficial
element of an employee who possesses a high level of
emotional intelligence is their motivation. Intrinsic
motivation plays a huge role in emotional intelligence.
Individuals who have high EQs are driven by things
beyond external rewards. Their passion and inner goals
help them to make them better at motivating
themselves.
Easier to motivate in Problematic Times
Emotionally Intelligent person is good for providing
better management practices and dealing with heavily
charged emotional battle. In fact, even though everyone
in the workplace may feel like they are overworked and
being abused, you always need someone in the team
that will keep a motivated frame of mind to get the job
that needs to be done.
Emotional Intelligence and Mental and
Physical Well-being
Emotional intelligence extends far beyond the
workplace. It can also have an impact on an individual's
mental and physical well-being. Individuals who have
higher levels of emotional intelligence are more self-
aware, which means that they are ultimately able to
identify trends in their feelings and can thereby develop
skills that help them cope. This ability to spot trends
can be used to link feelings to problems with physical
health as well. For example, when you get emotionally
upset with others on the job, your blood pressure can
rise and get you in a lot of mental and physical trouble
with your body.
Limitation of Emotional Intelligence
While emotional intelligence can be very helpful in
identifying the best candidates for a position, there are
also limitations. For instance, emotional intelligence
can be difficult to test. In fact, temperament and
personality are often two factors at the center of debate
when it comes to which should be the determining
factor. Each measure different aspects of an
individual's psyche. You can sympathize with others on
the job, but you need to find a fine line that tells you
when you are getting too close. Ins short, every emotion
that help you in one situation to help others can also be
viewed as inappropriate or hindrance in the workplace.
Particularly, when the person loses all credibility by
being too personal instead of keeping a professional
distance.
The Takeaway
Ultimately, your IQ and technical skills may get you in
the door. However, it's your EQ that will help to propel
you to the next level. What most companies are on the
hunt for are leaders and team players who consciously
or unconsciously practices and display higher level of
Emotional Quotient.
Intrinsic motivation
plays a huge role in
emotional intelligence.
Individuals who have
high EQs are driven by
things beyond external
rewards. Their passion
and inner goals help
them to make them
better at motivating
themselves.