Simply put emotional intelligence is 'knowing how you and others feel and, more importantly, what to do about it'. If you are emotionally intelligent you are aware of which emotions you and other feel, why they are felt and what actions and results could and should eventuate. If you are emotionally challenged then you cannot makes these links and are probably what we call in business - a loose canon. If you are stressed, you look stressed, and exude stress, and thus stress out everyone else around you.
In leadership, and success in business, emotional awareness is what makes the difference. I won't bore you with the statistics, but in various studies on this topic organizations were asked to name their star performers and in each case the defining factor contributing to their success was high levels of EI - as we will refer to it from now on.
So what are some traits of EI and how are they manifested in successful business people. Here are a few:
1. Self awareness - they have a strong and accurate self assessment and self confidence. They are aware of their values and their clarity of self enables them to communicate their vision with conviction. People buy into this authenticity and are drawn to it. They live by their values and don't change them. Strong leaders have this quality.
2. Self Knowledge - they know their strengths and weaknesses and don't mind others knowing this. They have a sense of humor about themselves, are constantly keen to learn and don't mind asking for help. They don't waste others time trying to massage their ego by trying to do something they can't.
3. Channel Emotions - they can monitor their own feelings and stress levels within the strain of modern life and are able to channel these emotions for positive effect in themselves and those around them. This trait gives a person presence and is extremely important in leaders. They can control their facial expressions to show excitement when necessary, or maintain a constant emotion when needed, regardless of what is stirring inside. Star perfumers can change their emotions in a moment. Business people with this trait spread a positive vibe and are able to lift a team in the face of adversity. They are able to keep disruptive emotions and impulses under control.
4. No Narcissistic Pre Judgements -they don't react to situations based on a story, usually negative, that they have created about themselves. They are confident in their abilities to deal with life as it arrives before them and they assess each situation on it's merits. They don't make business personal and see it for what it is - just business. Not a vehicle to flesh out their insecurities.
5. High Level of Social Awareness - they are very attuned to other people's perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. They are good listeners and think before they speak. In fact they are economical with words and don't feel the need to have to fill silences with talk. Meetings with these people are productive and focussed. They are flexible in adapting to changing situations and overcoming obstacles.
6. Can Confront - they are able to confront unethical or unacceptable behavior. This does not mean that they are particularly comfortable with this, but they do it due to their high moral stance and their conviction that standards are important. The ability to confront, in a calm and reasoned fashion, is a lacking trait in current times and certainly in the upcoming generation. Successful business people will never command respect without this personal stand.
7. Empathetic - they are sensitive to others emotions, understand their perspectives and take an active interest in their concerns. They realise that we live in a complicated world and that peoples' circumstances are very different and need accommodating. They understand that in business one size does not fit all and that progressive companies maintain flexibility with their workforce. They also understand that one management technique does not work on everyone. They understand that they are managing humans and not robots.
8. Sense of Service - they understand the importance of the customer as well as their team and teammates. They give more than they receive and they understand that this 'imbalance' will pay dividends in the long run in a more productive workforce and a positive work atmosphere.
These are not all the traits of EI business people and leaders. Many more can be found within websites and books and I have listed a few here.
Read: 'New Leaders' by Daniel Goleman and 'Working with Emotional Intelligence' by the same author.
Visit:
I would like to finish with a couple of quotes on Emotionally Intelligent Leadership.
Napoleon - Leaders are dealers of hope.
Daniel Goleman - Gifted leadership occurs when heart and head - feeling and thought - meet. These are the two winds that allow a leader to soar.
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