The benefits of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) have bowled me over as I’ve researched and applied what I have learnt. So few people understand the powerful impact of improving their EQ. Why doesn’t everybody know what they can gain by growing their Emotional Intelligence?
The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence
Here’s an incomplete list of few of the benefits:
- Ability to collaborate better as a team/family/couple
- EQ leaders have better staff retention
- Enhanced problem-solving
- Greater communication and conflict resolution
- Self-awareness: greater understanding of who you are
- Better relationships
- Greater Intrinsic Motivation
- Healthy optimism
- Greater empathy and compassion
- Clearer values and purpose
- Regulate and understand emotions better
- Handle stress and overwhelm more effectively
- Better Anger management
The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence @ Work
When teams develop Emotional Intelligence the benefits can be profound. On the practical side: greater productivity, better staff retention, stress-management, staff satisfaction and communication.
More authentic communication, honest self-awareness and accountability deliver results because issues are addressed sooner. Creative problem-solving, greater support and understanding of each other creates a more trusting and intrinsically motivated workplace. The number thrown around is that 70% (yes – 70%) of the emotional climate is set by the leader? So what kind of leadership does it take to create an EQ climate at work?
The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
A leader without emotional intelligence can show some of the following behaviours: walk all over or disregard people’s perspectives or experiences; demand goals be reached no matter the cost; ignore problems unless the direct impact is threatening the bottom line; want people who agree with ‘my way’ rather than hear honest feedback or input from others. The environment around may include fear, anxiety, anger, frustration and resentment.
In contrast, Emotional Intelligent leadership means a leader who is self-aware and knows their own strengths and weaknesses, they can hear others without being threatened and values honesty over pleasing answers. Emotional Intelligent leadership means that tough decisions include the awareness of people as whole beings. Although team members may not like decisions that must be made EQ leaders communicate with authenticity about what is going on so that teams moral and trust is not undermined. These environments may include warmth, trust, care, determination, courage and commitment.
- What type of leadership do your team benefit from?
- Is your team benefiting from a climate with high Emotional Intelligence?
- Would you like to grow your own EQ?
Find an EQ Expert who offers workshops, coaching or on-line EQ Assessment (SEI) for organisations and leaders.