The Secret to C-Suites Career? It’s Emotional Intelligence!
We have all heard and are very familiar with Intelligence Quotient or IQ. We all have the same basic mindset that people with higher IQ are more smarter and will do better in life. We have all been pushed and influenced by our environment to do better, achieve better and perform better in school and academics. While these are important, we however often neglected to recognize that IQ alone will only get us half of the way. We, as human beings, thrive and function not on facts and figures like automated machines but the very essence of mankind that is emotions.
Our ability to feel a wide range of emotions are what makes us humans. Most often than not, emotions have a powerful influence on our behaviours, reactions and decision-makings. Numerous studies over the years have highlighted the importance of Emotional Intelligence, or sometimes can be interchangeably referred to as EQ or EI, towards the career advancement of individuals. One recently published study found that people possessing high EQ/EI tend to have a gravitational position in company’s social networks which is unsurprising considering their abilities to influence others. They are also reported to have higher salaries than their peers. According to the President and CEO of Torch Group, an executive search firm, has stated that with emotional Intelligence a person may have a far better chance in moving up the C-suites level.
Get to Know Emotional Intelligence (EQ/EI)
It is one’s ability to perceive and understand not only his or her own emotions, but also the emotions of others around them. People with highly developed EQ are able to “read” others’ emotions and effectively act on them to have a positive influence. Being able to understand and manage emotions means being able to cope and deal with emotionally-fuelled situations better and not to make hasty, snap decisions without taking in consideration of other information.
How does Emotional Intelligence fit in at work environment?
In the recent World Economic Forum 2018 at Davos Switzerland, Jack Ma said that the true drivers of success behind Alibaba is the achievement of its employees that have managed to find a dynamic balance between EQ, LQ or Love Quotient and IQ.
People are the core component in any businesses. We are the drivers, the consumers, the buyers and the workers. Emotionally intelligence people are the master of people skills. The Brighton School of Business has determined through a study of over 180 executives and discovered that those scoring higher in EQ were more likely to bring in profits, while on the contrary, people with lower EQ tend to suffer under pressure and have more problems relating to miscommunications. In businesses that thrive on customers and client’s relationship, emotional intelligence is a very valuable attribute. Emotionally intelligent people tend to have good reputations that attract other people to work and associate with them.
Apart from using emotion cues to help in making mindful judgment, emotionally intelligent people also know when to tune their emotions out in other to focus on tasks at hand. This means keeping their problems at bay, at least until after work hours or when the tasks are done. The ability to exclude personal conflicts and negative emotions to “keep things smooth” is an achievement of only a few.
Through his study, the author of Emotionally Intelligence 2.0, Travis Bradberry had found that one trait shared by all top performers are their high level of emotional intelligence. These people are essentially a pro at regulating and motivating themselves which drive in good amount of productivity and work performance.
Emotions have a huge influence on our decision-making and the subsequent of actions that follows the decision. “In order to have anything like a complete theory of human rationality, we have to understand what role emotion plays in it.” said Dr. Herbert Simon, Nobel Laureate scientist, in his book Reason in Human Affairs.
Practicing Emotional Intelligence
Learn to be Self-Aware
Self-awareness is the starting point towards being emotionally intelligent. Throughout a day in a life, keep note of the changes in your emotions and moods and what situations evoke them. Focus on that feeling and take a deep breath. Manage them if necessary. The key is not to react, but to respond to the situation that is stirring your limbic system. All emotions are processed in the brain even if we may feel them in our heart or deep in our guts. This will allow you the clarity to identify whether your emotions are good or bad influence towards the situation at hand. We often hear and see people reacting to something very strongly just to regret their words and actions after. Although we as humans at some point in our life will have these moments where we failed to manage our emotions, but every mistake is a learning experience.
It’s all about Self-Regulation
Having a petty argument with a colleague over a project? Is there jealousy within your team about who get favoured the most? Struggle of power between two prominent professionals?
If all these situations make you envision yourself slamming the door or going all out with a temper, STOP. Regulate yourself, locked up your impulses to do rash actions that will not only hurt your image but also worsen the situations by folds. Find a mantra for you to remain calm and rational, rise above pettiness and office drama whenever possible. You do not have to react to everything around you, especially ones that have no positive contributions towards your growth.
Motivation from within
People are undoubtedly more drawn to positive and optimistic people. There’s something about motivation that comes from within that others may not understand but are greatly attracted to.
Find your inner motivation, something that is not “out there” or in forms of things. Sure prizes and possessions are great motivators but once you had them, you are left wondering: “What’s next?” What you should do is to pay attention to which aspect of your job excites you. Which ideas, projects or goals give you the most satisfaction now and in the past throughout your career. If you are in a job or a situation that is making you dreaded every morning, change them. Consider it thoughtfully and list out a plan to move yourself towards a happier path.
Be an Empath
Empathy comes a long way when it comes to dealing with people. Nobody wants to connect with a wall of a human. Allow yourself to connect with people on an emotional level. Observe and understand the reactions of the people in your workplace when interacting with you. Listen to their perspectives and point of views without being clouded by your own. Create a professional and purely intellectual debate and discussion if there are a clashing if opinions. Remember to not take it personal at the end of the day. Every brain is wired differently, and you will learn only by accepting and empathizing with different people.
Sharpen those Social Skills
This goes far beyond than just being “chatty”. Talkative does not necessary mean that the person is great at social skills and being a quiet and a musing introvert also does not mean that the person is terrible at socializing. Social skills take in various forms. These can include persuading and influencing, conflict and change management, effective communication and collaborating with people. Emotionally intelligent people are not just “good with people” in positive social settings but are also good at manoeuvring a difficult situation and diffusing a misunderstanding before it becomes a big conflict.
Even if you are not aiming for a C-Suites, emotional intelligence is still a good practice in your daily life, within your home and when interacting with your loved ones. Human interactions are a precious and integral aspect of our lives. To create and sustain a meaningful relationships with another human being is just a part of life.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2017/oct/17/secret-to-high-salary-emotional-intelligence
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/most-sought-after-c-suite-skills-1117
www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/emotional-intelligence-iq-career-success
www.businessnewsdaily.com/10429-emotional-intelligence-career-success.html
www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/voices/interviews/newman-emotional-intelligence
www.forbes.com/sites/forbes
coachescouncil/2018/05/09/how-your-emotions-influence-your-decisions/#4661db2b3fda
Writer: Syafiqaa Al
Best regards,
Syafiqaa
