Emotional Intelligence: Good Business Sense.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk of “emotional intelligence” or (EI) and how it can greatly benefit people’s relationships. Even though there has been a great deal of hype surrounding emotional intelligence, especially in the world of business, there is still a number of people who may not realize the overall rewards of (EI) and how it can positively affect our lives.
As child and even up until my late 20s I was indirectly conditioned with the notion that people with soaring IQs were naturally going to succeed and climb the corporate ladder. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. This common misconception was exposed by Daniel Goleman in the author’s book entitled ‘Emotional Intelligence’. It is interesting to note that emotional intelligence has been around for hundreds of years but did not gain momentum in the business world until the late 90s.
In a nut shell EI makes us understand and perceive our own emotions, control them and use them in a more beneficial way. Emotional Intelligence also makes us influence, inspire and feel other people’s emotions, thus making it easier to deal with a situation and put one’s self into the shoes of another person.
Let’s put this into more practical terms. For example, in many businesses people get employed because they have a high IQ. They can reason analytically and logically, and have a steel-trap focus when it comes to completing tasks. They are able to learn new things quickly; however they tend to ignore how others around them are feeling. If things do not go their way, they lose their temper and lash out at others. This type of person lacks empathy, and is often unable to relate to others who are not as smart as they are. One may dare to say this limits their ability to be effective in team situations, which is becoming a big part of corporate infrastructure.
On the other hand, people who have high EI get along well with their colleagues, and manage their own emotions. This makes them highly effective in their work place, even though there are others in the organization with better IQs. Employees who are able to consider the emotional components of interaction, using both their cognitive abilities and their understanding of emotions, are the employees who are able to influence and motivate people. This is made possible because they understand what matters to them and their colleagues and are more often than not, excellent communicators. Authenticity and integrity make these people natural leaders. They are flexible and creative when faced with a challenge, and resilient in the face of temporary defeats. They are well-liked and well-respected.
This may sound a little strange, however it’s completely practical. People who cannot control their emotions say and do damaging acts that may damage business relationships for years to come. Yet emotionally intelligent individuals know how to deal with difficult situations to benefit all parties involved.
Ambar Anita
Jakarta English Training (JET)
T: 77885700/ 800
F: 7785900
www.jetindonesia.com
By: Ambar Anita
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