You have probably heard a lot about emotional intelligence and how important it is for dealing with many situations more efficiently, hence its growing relevance in the workplace.
What is emotional intelligence?
It is the ability that allows us to take control of our emotional impulses, understand the deepest feelings of those around us, manage our relationships kindly, and, most complicated of all, deal with anger at the right time, with the right person, to the right degree, and in the right way.
People with high emotional intelligence are able to identify their emotions, manage them, and reflect on their thoughts before reacting, so as not to be misled by harmful feelings such as anger, frustration, and guilt. In addition to their own emotions, they are able to interpret the emotions of others, putting themselves in other people’s shoes through empathy.
On the contrary, people with low emotional intelligence tend to bottle up their feelings, ignoring their emotions until they explode, which can lead to high levels of stress
, anxiety, and burnout.
Therefore, emotional intelligence is really useful at work
, as these individuals tend to be higher-performing employees, contribute to a good atmosphere, enjoy their day-to-day work, and know how to keep negative emotions under control, as well as better understand the needs and behaviors of their coworkers, customers, or suppliers, making them more competent when it comes to processing information.
A leader with developed emotional intelligence is capable of achieving better results for the company, as they understand and leverage the talent of their team on an individual basis, make better decisions, are capable of motivating themselves and others, and ultimately carry out better strategic and personnel management.
How can emotional intelligence be applied correctly at work?
- Detect the emotions behind our actions, as this will make it easier to understand how they affect us and how they affect our work.
- Learn to recognize each emotion and be able to name them.
- Isolate emotions and focus on what we really feel.
- Do not repress emotions. Fear, sadness, anger, and joy give us the information we need to adapt to each situation and react correctly in the workplace or in our personal lives.
- Body language. It gives us a lot of information about ourselves and our coworkers.
- We should not just judge the reactions of our coworkers, but try to figure out the emotions behind them
- Express how we feel assertively. Whether in a work meeting or a performance review, we should try to express ourselves clearly, using the first person when speaking so as not to accuse or talk about others, and calmly expressing what we need.
Of course, there are factors that can make us more upset, so if we notice that we are more nervous or that it is going to be a busy day at the office, we should avoid caffeinated drinks. Getting enough sleep reduces our stress and therefore irritability, as does exercise, which makes us feel better and reduces anxiety. And last but not least, diet. A healthy, varied diet full of fruit will undoubtedly make us feel much better and more full of positive energy. Without a doubt, eating fruit at the office mid-morning is a good way to feel better and take a few minutes to reflect and disconnect.
