Why emotional intelligence matters
Emotional intelligence sounds like those things you need at home, perhaps when a roommate is being difficult or you forget a special birthday. By definition, it is a concept that describes people who are able to interpret and express their emotions appropriately and accurately.
Emotionally intelligent people tend to be better performers because they manage stress better and navigate difficult situations with a clear mind. If not, they can at least reflect on their anxieties and work toward a better outcome next time. These people can regulate themselves and put the aims of the organization first.
Emotional intelligence more than belongs in the workplace because it sets you apart as someone worth working with. Although they do not make it obvious, employers are primarily testing how you manage, control and express your emotions to see if you are a good fit in their organization.
Organizations need varying levels of emotional intelligence. In some companies, you can get away with less emotional involvement than others- for instance, a role where you advise clients who are going through stressful times requires more sensitivity.
Managing conflict
As students, we like to imagine that we will never encounter conflict in the workplace, however this is far from the truth. There is no such thing as a perfect person and the workplace is comprised of imperfect individuals who sometimes have bad days. Occasionally, you will run into a person having a bad day and it is very important that you know how to manage this.
There is no university course to teach you how to interact with difficult humans so this skill comes through practice. Ideally your team will be comprised of helpful, friendly people but if this is not the case, employers expect you to be able to diffuse the situation as much as possible and deliver a professional response.
Self-awareness
The common question ‘tell me your biggest weakness’ is one the ways which employers use to test your understanding of yourself. Self-awareness invites you to examine and evaluate yourself as a bystander. Whether or not you can do this says a lot about you.
This is important because employers cannot constantly oversee workers, although some try, so they expect you to essentially employ/manage yourself to some extent.
To know yourself gives you a massive advantage as it will protect you in several situations. For example, a self-aware person can recognise their mistakes quickly, apologise and move on.
Empathy
Empathy is the difference between having good, professional ideas and being able to deliver those ideas to real people. If you are the perfect employee on paper but do not know how to relate to people, your work comes across as inauthentic and unconvincing. Empathetic people are able to put themselves in the shoes of others. In turn, they build great relationships with others.
Think of it like meeting a super smart person who doesn’t know when to stop talking, even if they did have something interesting and fantastic to say, your brain switches off. You don’t remember the smart things they said during the interaction itself, but you remember how unvalued and small they made you feel by not letting you get a word in.
How to become emotionally intelligent?