Why Emotional Intelligence is Important in the Workplace

Today I am going to discuss about the most important topic in all our professional and personal lives. And it is emotional intelligence.

Let me explain this with a scenario, of course, this has happened in one of my own organizations, but I would like to use the pseudo names of the characters in it.

Ready? Imagine this scenario.

Sarah, a project manager is leading a critical project with a tight deadline. Not just this, her team is diverse, with team members from distinct backgrounds, each of them bringing unique skills and perspectives to the table.

The pressure started to mount as the deadline approached. Tension rose within the team and then misunderstandings begin to surface, eventually the communication has broken down completely.

The entire team members became frustrated, and that led to a rapid decline in morale and productivity.

On the other hand, Sarah has been observing this critical situation closely, she is aware of the signs of stress and anxiety in her team, but she did not do what 90% of the managers will do, that is call for a meeting, scold everyone and then make them work extra hours to meet the deadline. She did the opposite, she scheduled a meeting, with an agenda do not discuss the project, but to check in with each team member individually.

She has listed out the concerns of all, empathized with their challenges, and reassured them that their well-being is just as important as the project’s success.

She began to acknowledge everyone in the team for their efforts and providing them more clarification on what needs to be done. She encouraged open communication and created a safe space for the team to express their thoughts and ideas freely.

As a result, the team has started feeling valued, understood, heard and motivated to collaborate more effectively than before.

The result is all what we expect, a good one, the project has not only completed on time, but the team also emerged stronger and more cohesive.

This scenario highlights the power of emotional intelligence, we often ignore this, we focus more on the project side, but the actual drivers of the project are the team members. Their in capabilities will be the drawbacks of the project manager, and that is why there is a need to have a project manager who is aware of all these factors. It is not just a role, but a responsibility that is held by a person not only to satisfy the client, but also the teammates.

Emotional intelligence allows leaders like Sarah to handle the complex interpersonal dynamics, build trust and foster a positive work environment where both people and projects can thrive.

Knowing More about EI

Emotional Intelligence is going to be a must needed skill for the future leaders in any industry.

I can defend my above statement with the article published on Economic Times. ?

Why is it needed in the workplace? A study by TalentSmartEQ found that emotional intelligence is the strongest predictor of performance, explaining 58% of success in all types of jobs.

You can also read the research paper on National Library of Medicine

On the other hand, Harvard Business School Online has talked about the importance of EI in the leadership roles and they also have 37 pages of E-Book on the same.

After reading the articles, research papers and books, what I have learned is a crucial element that I would like to put that into practice.

Leadership or the management team are the one who deals with the people, and when people are involved, there are emotions involved as well. Now that emotions are not controlled and are not scaled, the only way to know about these are completely dependent on the understanding of others.

Their thought process and the way they are handling the situation and making the people believe in themselves can easily be done with the leaders who are empathetic and able to consider the thoughts of others.

The Concept

The concept of emotional intelligence, introduced by Daniel Goleman, emphasizes the importance of emotions in human life, often surpassing pure rationality. Our emotions are deeply rooted in evolutionary history, and while civilization has advanced, our emotional responses remain largely unchanged.

Goleman explains that humans have two minds: the emotional and the rational. The neocortex allows us to analyze our feelings, but in moments of intense emotion, the limbic system, particularly the amygdala, takes control, leading to what Goleman calls "emotional hijackings." These moments show why emotional intelligence is crucial alongside IQ.

Emotional intelligence involves self-awareness, managing emotions, self-motivation, empathy, and handling relationships. Self-awareness helps individuals recognize and manage their emotions effectively, while empathy and social skills are vital for successful interactions and leadership.

Goleman also discusses the impact of emotions on relationships, work, and health. Emotional intelligence can improve relationships by fostering better communication and understanding, especially in handling conflicts. In the workplace, emotional intelligence enables leaders to manage teams effectively, offer constructive feedback, and create an inclusive environment.

Finally, Goleman highlights the importance of addressing the emotional needs of patients in medical care, as emotions like stress can impact physical health. Overall, emotional intelligence is essential for navigating the complexities of human life, both personally and professionally.