Emotional intelligence is a job skill that is quickly rising to the top of the list for top human resource officers when seeking talent.  It lands above “judgement and decision making” and “negotiation” and is expected to be near or at number one on the list by 2020. 

Emotional intelligence affects how we manage behavior, navigate social situations, and make decisions.  A CareerBuilder survey of more than 2,600 U.S. hiring managers and HR professionals revealed that 71% value emotional intelligence over high IQ, and it often surpasses technical ability in importance.  Employees that possess emotional intelligence are better able to defuse conflict and contribute less to office drama. 

Employees with high emotional intelligence (EQ) tend to display the following behaviors:

1.      They focus on the positive.  Emotionally intelligent people don’t dwell on the negative.  Instead they look for what’s positive in a situation and work towards a solution.  They know to only focus on what they can control.  Studies have shown that employees with a high EQ are physically and psychologically healthier than pessimists and perform better at work.

2.      They are well balanced.  The ability to balance empathy and kindness with the ability to assert one’s self and set boundaries is seen in those with higher EQs and helps them manage conflict.  This balance allows employees with high EQ to better counteract toxic people.  They demonstrate politeness and consideration but stay firm at the same time.  They are able to manage conflict appropriately without making the situation worse.

3.      They manage emotions better than most.  Emotionally intelligent people are able to manage their emotions when in a stressful situation.  “Reasonable people--the ones who maintain control over their emotions--are the people who can sustain safe, fair environments. In these settings, drama is very low and productivity is very high. Top performers flock to these organizations and are not apt to leave them,” states psychologist and bestselling author Daniel Goleman.

4.      They have the ability to empathize with others.  According to DDI Research, empathy is the number one driver of overall organizational performance.  It is a common trait in high performing teams.  The ability to understand the feelings and challenges of other team members helps to create better team collaboration across the organization.

5.      They expend their energy wisely.  Emotionally intelligent people don’t hold grudges and can move on from conflict with others quickly.  They don’t hold onto anger and are able to use the situation to learn from and avoid it in the future.  

Emotional intelligence is key element to look for in candidates and continually develop during the employee journey.  While all organizations will experience conflict, it doesn’t have to have a negative affect on the employee experience.

ASE Resources
ASE offers a course entitled Emotional Intelligence.  This course will increase the participants’ understanding of the relevance and importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). It will explore ways to improve participants EQ and develop an action plan in order to be more successful in the workplace.  The next class is Wednesday, January 10, 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.  For more information or to register, click here.

Sources:  FastCompany.com, Inc.com