Did you know there is more than just one kind of intelligence? Some psychologists may say there are 12 different kinds of intelligence, but others say 7 or 9, because it depends on what theory you want to follow.
In fact in the world of psychology, intelligence is a theory, there is no one way of thinking about it and classifying it. This makes sense as everyone has their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to life skills, however, there is a phenomenon in which women typically score higher than men on emotional intelligence tests across the board, according to multiple psychology studies.
It is not a coincidence however, the studies show that it has to do with how society allows women to express their emotions, not that women are innately more emotionally intelligent.
Whatever the reasons, it happens to be a benefit in the workplace to have high emotional intelligence. From being a better team player to extending your leadership skills to higher positions, emotional intelligence is a highly valued workplace skill.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is defined by psychologists as the ability to interpret and manage emotions. A person who is emotionally intelligent can understand how other people feel in different situations, giving them a wider perspective and ability to be empathetic but also the ability to better navigate situations.
The other side of emotional intelligence is being able to manage and control your own emotions. Everyone has their moments where their emotions run wild, but some people are better at letting themselves feel, process it and return to a baseline feeling.
Managing your emotions doesn't mean you don't get mad but it means you allow yourself to feel, process and handle your emotions inappropriate ways.
All of these aspects of EI can be directly applied to the workplace.
Why Is It An Important Professional Skill
The skills that emotional intelligence yields include self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation and good social skills, which help you in both life and work. In the workplace, they can help you to create positive connections and interactions with others, this is essential for being on a team or running one.
Nobody wants to go to work if their co-workers are unpleasant, but having skills in EI helps you be someone that others can trust and want to work with. Being able to empathize with others helps them trust and connect with you, in all walks of life, but this is essential in the modern workplace to have a solid team.
EI can open doors to leadership positions because when you demonstrate your EI at work, other leaders notice it and will consider it when giving promotions and responsibility.
Emotional Intelligence & Leadership
Leaders need to have skills in EI because they often have to navigate situations, both low and high-pressure, for which their EI can allow them to see all sides of the conflict. Being a leader means solving problems, and EI allows folks to do so through emotions.
How do emotions impact work and leadership? When a team gets stressed or frustrated, it takes someone who can manage those emotions well to find solutions that keep the ball rolling.
When you think about the history of workplaces, it is easy to imagine a screaming boss, but that is not the case in the modern workplace and the shift into modern leadership that includes finding solutions through conflict management.
If you are considering a promotion that requires managing others and being a leader, do reflect on your skills in emotional intelligence and choose to continue strengthening them no matter where you are in your emotional regulation.
How To Improve Your Emotional Intelligence
There are a lot of theories about intelligence, but you can always gain skills to increase your abilities and that includes emotional intelligence.
If you want to be able to empathize better with others, start by learning to control your own emotions. Practice mindfulness to pay attention to your emotions and how you react to situations. Ideally, you can learn to not react but decide how to respond, that is true emotional regulation.
It takes time to reach that point, but the workplace is a great place to practice responding instead of reacting. Keep a journal of the different emotions you feel throughout the day, and why. Do you always get frustrated every day at the same stoplight? Or do you always feel happy when you use your work bestie?
This is important information for gaining a full picture of how you process emotions. Also learn to let things go when you feel frustrated, especially in the workplace to be a better team player and gain skills in regulating your emotions.
