Workforce Emotional Intelligence:
10 Benefits
One recent question from a client CEO: “How important is Emotional Intelligence to my business and my workforce? Our answer: “Leaders who possess Emotional Intelligence make good business decisions because they are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. Their self-reflection along with their knowledge, skills, and abilities allow them to rapidly improve workplace culture and workforce performance.”
Leadership Emotional Intelligence is more relevant today than ever before!
It should come as no surprise that our discussion was detailed and lengthy. Let me share more of that conversation with you. I began by providing our client with the history of Emotional Intelligence along with insight into one man’s impressive work. It was that man, Daniel Goleman, who introduced and established the power of workplace Emotional Intelligence.
(Daniel Goleman, author, psychologist, and science journalist)
What is Emotional Intelligence?
During our discussion, we agreed that corporate leaders are generally drawn to those who possess leadership knowledge, skills, and abilities. Today’s senior management, however, look beyond education, work experience, and gung-ho work behavior. To be sure, they’re important. However, the real success of workplace leadership is based on the Emotional Intelligence of its leaders!
Daniel Goleman published his research and theories on Emotional Intelligence/Emotional Quotient (EI/EQ) in 1995.[1] His theories evolved from a 1990 research paper written by two psychology professors, John D. Mayer at the University of New Hampshire & Peter Salovey at Yale. They coined the phrase “Emotional Intelligence.”
Interestingly, the subject of Emotional Intelligence was initially addressed by Howard Gardner in 1975 when he explored the concept of “multiple intelligences.”[2] In a 1983 book, Gardner further developed concepts relating to the power of Emotional Intelligence.[3]
Daniel Goleman studied the research of Gardner, Mayer, and Solovey and applied their theories and contrasted EI with an individual’s IQ. Goleman found that Emotional Intelligence was a stronger predictor of leadership success than one’s IQ.
In simple terms, the concepts of Emotional Intelligence/Emotional Quotient (EI/EQ) are skills that guide individual workplace thinking and actions. Daniel Goleman’s model of Emotional Intelligence oxygenates cognition and benefits interpersonal and professional relationships.
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
Why is Emotional Intelligence Relevant to You?
As Goleman reminded us in 1998[4], “The rules for work are changing. We’re being judged by a new yardstick; not just by how smart we are, or by our training and expertise, but also by how well we handle ourselves and each other.” Goleman found that no matter what field we work in, our marketability traits are crucial for current and future jobs.
Antrim Consulting has observed significant benefits in workplace communication, employee self-confidence, and workforce performance when leaders possess and demonstrate Emotional Intelligence. We believe Goleman’s five competencies offer compelling evidence that leadership Emotional Intelligence:
Eliminates workforce miscommunication
Strengthens DEIB initiatives and,
Enhances a workplace of cultural belonging
For over two decades, Antrim Consulting has observed impressive workforce outcomes when leaders’ behavior reflects Emotional Intelligence. That’s why, whenever the opportunity arises, Antrim Consulting supports workplace initiatives that embed leadership Emotional Intelligence across the entire workforce. We ask our clients to imagine the oxygenating power of a workplace culture infused with Emotional Intelligence! Is it possible? You bet it is!
Emotional Intelligence 5 Components
Let’s take a closer look at Goleman’s five Emotional Intelligence competencies. We believe that Emotional Intelligence between leaders and your workforce will enhance trust, enhance workforce communication, guarantee goal achievement, and increase bottom-line profitability.
Goleman’s five Emotional Intelligence components.
Self-Awareness
Skill of using your emotions intelligently to improve self-performance and achieve interpersonal effectiveness with others
Self-Awareness recognizes your feelings and behaviors
Self-Regulation
Skill of identifying and managing your behaviors in times of stress or crisis
Self-Motivation
Skill of being focused to manage and overcome setbacks and obstacles in your personal and/or professional life
Social Skills
Managing workforce relationships helps build your rapport and collaborative skills. So important in today’s DEI focused multicultural workplace!
Empathy
Skill of recognizing and understanding what and how others feel. Goleman considers this the sine qua non, i.e., the prerequisite and absolute essential trait of leadership. Leadership empathy is a trait that recognizes the value of individual employees, a diverse workforce, and workplace inclusion.
10 Reasons Why Emotional Intelligence is Important to You
Emotional Intelligence is important to your business, because:
1. Builds mindfulness and self-reflection
2. Creates calm and inner resilience in stressful situations
3. Manages emotional energy in challenging circumstances
4. Controls impulsive, unpleasant, and disruptive emotions creating harmful reactions
5. Embeds a sense of well-being and self-confidence
6. Continually improves responsive behaviors
7. Calms self to enable meaningful dialog with others
8. Improves workforce relationships
9. Builds thinking skills and high-quality decision making
10. Enhances understanding of others
Antrim Consulting offers highly engaging on-site Emotional Intelligence coaching and group workshops that build and embed these competencies across your workforce.
We start with your leadership team! We know that Emotional Intelligence supports and enriches a culture of learning. Your organization will experience immediate changes and benefits as Emotional Intelligence continually strengthens your leaders and your workforce.
Emotional Intelligence is an investment for your business future!
Invitation from Antrim Consulting
We invite you to give us a call for a complimentary one-hour discussion and we’ll explore how Emotional Intelligence will unleash the power and performance of your leaders and your workforce.
Antrim Consulting supports your commitment to workplace excellence!
Online &/or Onsite Coaching
Free 1 Hour Initial Consultation
CONTACT ANTRIM CONSULTING
Footnotes:
[1] Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than I.Q., Goleman, Daniel, 1995, Random House, New York
[2] The Shattered Mind, Gardner, Howard, 1975, Vintage Books-Penguin Random House, New YorkFebruary 2022
[3] Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Gardner, Howard, 1983, Basic Books, a Member of Perseus Books Group, New York
[4] Working with Emotional Intelligence, Goleman, Daniel, Bantam Books, New York, p. 3
"Emotions have taught mankind to reason."
Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues
French Writer & Moralist
1715-1747