What emotional intelligence strategies can you use to maintain momentum during change?

1 Understand your emotions

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own and others' emotions. The first step to using emotional intelligence in change management is to be aware of your own emotional reactions to change. How do you feel about the change? Are you excited, anxious, angry, or indifferent? How does your emotion affect your behavior, communication, and decision-making? By understanding your emotions, you can better regulate them and avoid letting them interfere with your project leadership.

3 Communicate clearly and openly

The third step to using emotional intelligence in change management is to communicate clearly and openly with your team and stakeholders. How do you explain the change, its rationale, its benefits, and its implications? How do you listen to their feedback, questions, and suggestions? How do you address their resistance, objections, or conflicts? By communicating clearly and openly, you can build trust, transparency, and collaboration. You can also reduce confusion, misinformation, and rumors that can undermine the change and the project.

4 Involve and empower your team

The fourth step to using emotional intelligence in change management is to involve and empower your team in the change process. How do you solicit their input, ideas, and opinions? How do you delegate tasks, responsibilities, and authority? How do you recognize, reward, and celebrate their achievements and contributions? By involving and empowering your team, you can foster a sense of ownership, commitment, and accountability. You can also leverage their skills, creativity, and diversity to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the change and the project.

6 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?