Emotional Intelligence Is The Key

Hello to you dear subscriber!

It boggles my mind (and makes me sad) that many people are in denial about the importance of investing in emotional intelligence. The signals that we need to prioritize it are all around us:

• ?Surgeon general says loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes per day?
• ?Youth mental health rates are in crisis?
• ?84% of millennials have experienced burnout at their current job?
• ?1/5 adults and 1/12 children (at rising rates) are prescribed psychiatric drugs ? often without trying other methods first.
• ?Chronic stress leads to chronic inflammation and increases risk for heart disease, cancer and suicide.?

People who are chronically stressed are cognitively impaired and unable to access the full power of their brains. These are people who will fall back into existing patterns even when those patterns are harmful or impede collective progress. Unfortunately, so many of us have been conditioned to objectify our own and each other's bodies as vehicles for profit or consumption, that we tolerate stress and harm so that we can feel safe and secure. Paradoxically, the short-term avoidance of challenging our deep-seated assumptions leads to a normalization of stress that impacts our creativity, wellbeing, and performance, and thus, our long-term safety and security.

In my work with clients, I see firsthand that countless people in organizations are ignoring signals from their bodies and operating from a chronically stressed state of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn for most of their workday, particularly those from underrepresented groups. The consequences of this:

• Short-sighted decision making
• Loss of employee trust
• Lack of diversity in decision-making structures
• Avoidance of difficult conversations and a lack of accountability
• Misdirected effort toward less important, easier, or selfishly motivated actions
• Poor health and well-being: our own and others
• Inability to think creatively and truly innovate

In order to address complex problems and navigate complex systems, we need to access the full cognitive power of our brains. Creating psychological and emotional safety for ourselves and others is at the heart of true systems change work.

As a systems change practitioner, I understand that emotional intelligence translates to better outcomes across all of our systems. If we are unable to handle the discomfort of feedback, accountability, and speaking up, then we won't do the right thing.

In terms of the benefits of increasing our collective capacity for emotional intelligence, particularly in leadership roles, there are several:

1. Leaders with high emotional intelligence are better equipped to create a positive and inclusive work environment, where ALL employees feel valued and supported. This, in turn, leads to increased job satisfaction, motivation, and productivity.
2. Emotionally intelligent leaders are more effective at managing conflicts and resolving disputes, both within their organization and with external stakeholders. They are able to stay calm under pressure and communicate effectively, which helps to prevent conflicts from escalating and allows for more constructive dialogue.
3. Emotionally intelligent leaders are better able to inspire and motivate their teams, which leads to greater innovation, creativity, and collaboration. They are able to create a sense of shared purpose and a vision for the future, which helps to align the efforts of the team and create a strong sense of collective identity.

Overall, increasing our collective capacity for emotional intelligence is essential for creating a more just and equitable society through healthier and more ethical organizational leadership. By developing this skill, we can build stronger, more compassionate relationships with one another, and work together to challenge the systems of harm and inequality that continue to hold us back. We can also improve our mental health and the mental health of future generations.

Are you with me?

Sign up for my upcoming class, "Emotional Intelligence Through An Intersectional Lens" here.

I am so happy that you are part of my community. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of accessing your inbox!

Playfully yours,

Jyoti Jani Patel

Principal and Founder at?Spille:Play

Consider sharing with the visionary execs, women leaders, creative change agents, & ethical technologists in your life.