“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt
One of the lessons I learned early on is that whatever business you are in, there are processes and intellectually deliberate ways to make good decisions…That all changes when you interject emotions!
For so long, intelligence has been defined by IQ. But the tides are shifting and a brighter light is being shown on the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ).
If you’re unfamiliar with EQ, it’s characterized as the ability to identify and manage your emotions and understand and empathize with the emotions of others.
I’m a firm believer in the importance of EQ because it harnesses the power of channeling your emotions in a constructive way. Whether it’s collaborating with others, adapting to change, or practicing empathy, EQ provides the balance that creates a sense of cohesion in the workplace.
When there’s a united front across all departments in a business, people are more apt to come together to encourage those around them to be the best versions of themselves.
While we all have our own unique source of motivation to grow and evolve within our careers, no matter your why, the path to personal success isn’t a straight shot.
It’s filled with detours and roadblocks that threaten to throw us off course. With a strong sense of EQ acting as a GPS, we can reroute our way of thinking and stay focused on our ultimate goals.
That’s why EQ is so important here at ETC and JWF. When I began my quest to learn as much as I could about the topic, I came upon a book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0.
This book offers a step-by-step guide to strengthen your EQ with four overarching themes.
- Self-Awareness – This is the ability to understand your strengths and weaknesses and how your actions affect others. Self-awareness usually leads to being able to handle and learn from constructive criticism.
- Self-Management – As human beings, we’re full of emotion and sometimes those emotions get the best of us. When you have a strong sense of self-management, you’re able to reveal or restrain your emotions in a controlled manner.
- Social Awareness – Everyone is different and being able to acknowledge and accept those differences requires social awareness. A large part of this step in EQ is centered on the ability to exercise compassion and connect with others on an emotional level. The goal is to build strong relationships grounded in trust and genuine concern.
- Relationship Management – Rapport and trust are at the core of relationship management. There’s no tug-of-war for power. Instead, the goal is to work as a team to reach a common goal and create a sense of collaboration between yourself and those around you.
I believe in investing in our employees to create an environment where they’re free to collaborate, play on their strengths, recognize and work on their weaknesses, and build a strong rapport with fellow employees.
If at this moment you feel like your EQ might not be the strongest it can be, remember that it’s like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it will become.