What do you do if senior stakeholders challenge your emotional intelligence?

Reconoce tus emociones: Permítete sentir lo que estás experimentando, pero no te dejes llevar por ellas. Practica técnicas de relajación como la respiración profunda o la meditación para controlar tu respuesta emocional.

Practice emotional self-regulation and impulse control. Senior stakeholder or not, when we feel triggered and when we have a lower level of impulse control - the delay between triggering and reaction is short. Then the challenge with senior stakeholder is your perception. If you have any emotion of pressure or fear when it comes to the senior stakeholder, you are likely to be easily triggered. What helps is to understand their needs, not their title or function. You respect them as you respect any other human being, we all go to the bathroom. And when you focus on their needs, then your perception shifts from making it about your own emotions or triggers, to trying to understand and meet their needs.

When senior stakeholders question your emotional intelligence, respond with composure and self-awareness. Acknowledge their concerns, demonstrate empathy, and use this opportunity to show your ability to understand and manage emotions effectively. It's a chance to build trust and strengthen relationships by actively listening and responding thoughtfully.

Introspection comes with emotional discomfort, which is why we tend to project. Because it feels more comfortable to deflect than to turn inwards. Understanding this without judgement, but with curiosity and compassion is a fundamental pillar for your growth mindset. The best timing to do self-reflection is when you feel neutral emotions so your negative or positive emotions do not cloud your judgement.

Additional data points might also help with reflection. Seek feedback from other stakeholders and peers whom you consider well-equipped in emotional intelligence. Avoid asking directly, "I was told xxx; do you think it is true?" Instead, frame it as a situation: "This is the customer/project situation; how do you understand it, and what would you choose to do and why?"

Resolve conflicts constructively and collaboratively Effective conflict resolution creates a culture of respect, encourages open communication, and ultimately bonds parties together with trust... By knowing how to deal with stakeholder conflict, liaison officer, project manager and external affairs specialist can simultaneously enhance stakeholder relationships, cement their reputation as reliable and fair process adjudicators and preserve project harmony and progress. ??

Reconoce tus emociones: Permítete sentir lo que estás experimentando, pero no te dejes llevar por ellas. Practica técnicas de relajación como la respiración profunda o la meditación para controlar tu respuesta emocional.

Mantén una actitud positiva: Cultiva pensamientos optimistas y confía en tu capacidad para enfrentar el desafío. En lugar de enfocarte en los obstáculos, busca soluciones y estrategias para superar el desafío. Recuerda que los desafíos son oportunidades de crecimiento y aprendizaje.

Find a mentor. The mentor-mentee relationship helps improve communication skills, exercise emotional intelligence, and gain better self-awareness in the long run.