What do you do if your emotional intelligence is hindering your career advancement in business reporting?

1 Assess EI

Understanding the components of emotional intelligence is the first step. Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills are the pillars of EI. If these elements are not in balance, your career may be affected. For instance, excessive empathy may hinder critical thinking, essential in business reporting. Recognize which aspect of EI is causing issues and work towards balancing it. This could mean setting firmer emotional boundaries or strengthening your analytical skills to complement your emotional understanding.

2 Seek Feedback

Feedback is invaluable when you're trying to improve your emotional intelligence. Reach out to trusted colleagues or supervisors for their honest opinions on how your emotions are perceived in the workplace. They may notice patterns you're unaware of, such as being too emotionally invested in certain stories or reacting too personally to feedback. Use this information to adjust your behavior and interactions. Remember, feedback is not a criticism but a tool for growth.

3 Enhance Skills

Improving your business reporting skills can help balance out an overemphasis on emotional intelligence. Focus on honing technical aspects such as data analysis, research methodologies, and financial literacy. By bolstering these skills, you can ensure that your emotional insights are complemented by a strong foundation of industry knowledge and reporting expertise. This balance can make you a more rounded and effective business reporter.

4 Practice Detachment

Practicing detachment doesn't mean becoming emotionless; it's about maintaining professional distance. When working on a story, strive to keep personal feelings separate from factual reporting. This can be challenging, but it's crucial for maintaining objectivity. Role-playing exercises or mindfulness techniques can help you gain perspective and manage your emotional responses, ensuring they don't overshadow your professional judgment.

5 Build Resilience

Resilience is key in overcoming the challenges posed by high emotional intelligence. It involves bouncing back from setbacks and maintaining focus on your career goals. Develop coping strategies for when emotions run high, such as taking a short break or discussing your feelings with a mentor. Resilience will help you navigate the emotional aspects of business reporting without letting them derail your career progression.

6 Expand Network

Finally, expanding your professional network can provide support and guidance when emotional intelligence impacts your career. Connect with peers who can share their experiences and offer advice on managing emotions in the workplace. Networking events, industry forums, and online communities are great places to meet like-minded professionals who can help you leverage your emotional intelligence positively in your business reporting career.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?