Emotional Intelligence: Becoming a Better Leader for Your Business
Although this topic is slowly gaining traction, it is rarely talked about or taught in the world of business. However, when used correctly, emotional intelligence is a powerful tool when it comes to building a business. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and control your emotions and the emotions of others. Being aware of emotions within the work place will make you a better leader, which will make your business a great place for your employees to work. Here are several ways emotional intelligence can help your business:
Communication
The basis of emotional intelligence is good communication. This becomes particularly vital when it comes to communicating with your employees. Whether we recognize it or not, our emotions play a huge role in the way we communicate with others. When we are sad, happy, angry, or something in between, it influences the way we communicate and react to others. The key is to be able to control our emotions so that we can communicate with others without letting our personal feelings get in the way. On the other hand, emotional intelligence will also help you look past the emotions of others.
For example, one of your employees may speak to you and other employees in a curt or strange manner because of something that is happening in his or her personal life that is affecting the person’s emotions. The trick is to look past HOW they are speaking to you and recognize that there is a reason WHY they are communicating this way. As a business owner or manager, this ability will help you to understand your employees and become aware of what is happening in their lives. By doing so, you will create an environment for your employees where they feel supported and appreciated.
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Individuals with high emotional intelligence tend to work well with other people. They have the ability to be flexible and adjust when there is conflict or change within the workplace. This is an essential ability that all leaders should have and it really comes in handy when you put together a team to get a project done. The main reason some teams fail is because they cannot reconcile competing personalities. As a leader with emotional intelligence, you will be able to put individuals together who can put their differences aside and get the work done. You can put other emotionally intelligent individuals in teams so that they can help calm frustrations and keep the team on track.
Conflict Resolution
Occasionally, there is conflict in the work place. For those who do not have the ability to handle their emotions or the emotions directed to them by others, conflict can be really difficult and almost impossible to resolve. The ability to resolve conflict comes from self-awareness, which comes from having high emotional intelligence. When you are self-aware you are able to understand your strengths and weaknesses.
As a leader, this also means that you are aware of your employees’ strengths and weaknesses, which will help you resolve conflicts within your office. Conflict often arises within the workplace because of misunderstandings. This often happens because of confusing emotions and misinterpretations. If you have high emotional intelligence, you will be better able to restrain yourself and your own emotions so that you can see potential conflict from the perspective of others and, therefore, find a solution. In place of conflict, you will be able to build upon and improve work relations, thus creating a better work environment and a better business.
People Building
The best way to build your business is by building the people in it. Those who know and can control their emotions also tend to be compassionate and empathetic to the emotions of others. This is a vital trait for business leaders who want to connect with their employees and meet their needs. Some of the most successful businesses in the world are the best because they are known for treating their employees like real people.
Too often, companies treat their employees as expendable workers who can be replaced. Being emotionally intelligent will help you see your employees as individuals. This will help you to consider your employees’ feelings when confronted with different situations. Being able to do this will help you figure out how to help your employees in the best way, which will make them a grateful, productive, and beneficial employee. It is the people who make the business, not the other way around.
Build Relationships
Those with high emotional intelligence are generally known for their people skills. As a leader, this is an important skill to have because it means you enjoy other people and have the ability to build trust quickly. No one wants to follow someone they cannot trust or rely on. This trust will lead to lasting and meaningful relationships with your employees and customers. This is particularly important because the difference between a successful business and a failing business is the relationships.
Trust your emotions and instincts when dealing with people and it will make all the difference in how you perceive them and how they perceive you. Your ability to connect with individuals on an emotional level will build a loyal following that will take your business to new heights.
Create New Leaders
As a leader who has built up your own emotional intelligence, you can help teach other individuals how to control and utilize their emotions and become leaders. Every business should be in the business of building people. There is no better place to find leaders and potential caretakers of your business than within your own company.
It is not always easy to find and teach an individual how to be a leader. It takes a lot of patience and understanding and more than a small amount of emotional intelligence. However, the effort will be worth it because those employees with emotional intelligence will become valuable assets to your company.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence is not often talked about in business because it is not something that is easy to learn. However, if you take the time to build your own emotional intelligence, the benefits will far outweigh the time and effort it will take. A leader who can control their emotions is a formidable force in the world of business. Become emotionally intelligent and take your business to the next level.
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