On a global scale, we have long recognized the significance of emotional intelligence in achieving business success. As a consultant, I am engaged in various areas of organizational development and business optimization.
The area of team dysfunction is particularly close to my heart, and I have witnessed how the lack of emotional intelligence can negatively impact the productivity and efficiency of teams. From my experience, the development of emotional intelligence is not just a trend but an essential component for maintaining healthy work relationships and achieving business goals.
Working with different teams, I have noticed that leaders and team members with high emotional intelligence are better able to adapt to changes, manage stress and conflicts, and establish better interpersonal relationships. It is not just a matter of “soft skills,” but it directly impacts business results.
The Aspects of Emotional Intelligence
Developing emotional intelligence involves several important aspects. Firstly, self-awareness – individuals who are aware of their emotions and triggers and can understand the impact on their behavior and relationships with others. Self-awareness enables individuals to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, the foundation for personal and professional development.
Another important aspect is self-regulation. This involves the ability to manage one’s emotions and impulses.
It is crucial to make a distinction between self-regulation and emotional suppression. The former is a characteristic of emotionally intelligent individuals, and thanks to specific practical exercises and tools, they can bring themselves to a state of calmness and clarity of mind even in challenging situations.
On the other hand, we have individuals who manage to maintain the appearance of calmness but experience real emotional turbulence internally, which is problematic in the long run and has an extremely negative impact primarily on productivity, and then on motivation to actively contribute to the team.
Empathy as a third important element of emotional intelligence represents understanding and compassion for the emotions of others, or the ability to see the situation impartially from the other person’s perspective. This way, we can enable ourselves to understand the triggers of other individuals and accordingly adjust our own emotions.
Addressing the micromanagement with EQ development
Take a leader who micromanages their team as an example. This type of leader approaches the team with criticism, instead of analyzing the environment and starting an open conversation, trying to identify the source of the problem.
These are mostly individuals who find it difficult to relinquish control, additionally, they may have toxic perfectionism or deep insecurity about their work. Whatever the reason, such dysfunction makes the person weak, and every attempt to present themselves as an authority ultimately fails.
It has been proven that each dysfunction can be worked on and that any behavior that does not contribute to improvement, both individually and as a team, can be neutralized by working on the development of emotional intelligence.
Empathetic leaders are capable of motivating and inspiring their colleagues, creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and support.
Finally, relationship management skills are crucial for building successful teams. This includes establishing and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, resolving conflicts constructively, and encouraging collaboration. Organizations that invest in developing emotional intelligence in their leaders and teams have long-term benefits in terms of increased productivity, better communication, higher employee engagement, and sustainable market success.
Essentially, emotional intelligence is more than just an addition to most training programs. It is the foundation for successfully leading teams, achieving goals, and building an inspirational work culture. I strongly believe in the importance of continuous development of emotional intelligence to achieve excellence in the work environment.
