Emotional Intelligence in ACTION

I would not steal Daniel Goleman's intellectual property... so, shout out to the expert who sparked my creativity this week.  We've been talking about Emotional Intelligence for years and Daniel Goleman and his team continue to expand the topic.  It's not that complicated, but it can be fairly misunderstood. You can learn the basics here: https://morethansound.net/emotional-social-intelligence-leadership-competencies/#.WXoIvGeWzVg.

As an Executive Coach, I've seen many leaders struggle with emotional self-awareness and self-control.  A great resource on this topic is Corporate Culture pioneer, Larry Senn soon hosting a free webinar on this topic: https://weavinginfluence.com/webinars/the-mood-elevator-with-larry-senn/?utm_content=buffer84e36&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer.

My interest resurfaced recently while building Human Resources strategy for my team to positively impact iPic Entertainment today and prepare for future growth. 

The elements of EI of greatest interest to me now are: Achievement Orientation, Influence, Conflict Management, and Teamwork.

Achievement Orientation is a positive term.  In practice, it means individuals are motivated to do an excellent job, looking for ways to improve, and showing commitment to organizational success.  In today's business climate, we need to train leaders to slow down, assemble the facts, and make informed decisions. No one can achieve success making decisions with bad data or throwing ideas at the wall to see what will stick.  Striving to meet a standard of excellence means we are mindful of our brand message, guest value proposition, and organizational mission in all that we do. And, we may need to remind our peers from time to time that excellence requires more effort.

Influence can be misunderstood. It's not about just getting other people to do what you want them to do.  Influence is more graceful than that -- influence is about having a positive influence on others.  Gaining commitment to your ideas as a result of solid communication, asking good questions, and listening to what others have to say. Leaders at all levels need to ask occasionally, "Am I influencing the team or am I using authority and power to get what I want?"  The answer makes a difference.  Leaders need followers in order to function, so gaining support is critical especially when implementing change.

Throughout my career, Conflict Management has frequently been a significant indicator as to the health (or non-health) of a company culture.  While many people may need help managing conflict, top leaders have a responsibility to set the tone for how conflict should be dealt with.  Having worked passive-aggressive cultures, I've seen firsthand the impact of gossip, hidden agendas, and fractured relationships on morale and business results. Most of us know that conflict has to be managed in our personal lives, but still we ignore it or talk to third parties instead of going straight to the source at work to deal with misunderstandings.  Being in a growth-focused company and working with a strong executive team, we are defining our processes and resolving issues across the organization.  Doing this will make us stronger and better, it's that simple.

Finally, Teamwork is a vital element of Emotional Intelligence.  Rarely are huge accomplishments a result of one person acting independently.  Teams get things done and leaders have an obligation to set shared goals, permit input, and communicate success broadly so that everyone can feel good about the results.  Our business is complicated -- amazing properties, delicious food and beverage, memorable hospitality with affordable luxury and entertainment... there are many who contribute every day to make it all come together. 

While the entire body of work on Emotional Intelligence is important, these four items are the ones my team is focused on for the short term.  While we build and display these capabilities, we develop better leaders and teams for iPic Entertainment.   

Which elements of Emotional Intelligence do you need to put into action in your organization?