Emotional Intelligence – the Centerpiece of Great Organizations
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 - Joe Kiedinger
There has been a lot written about Emotional Intelligence, or E.I. A person with a high E.I. has the ability to see a situation as information and not a personal attack. A person with a high E.I. can handle emotional people in a calm and gentle manner. Basically stated, uncontrolled emotions provide unstable workplaces.
Who would you rather work for: a person who wears their emotions on their sleeve, or someone who is level-headed and calm all the time?
Studies have shown that business leaders with high E.I. are far more successful than those with a high I.Q. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to be smart in a business. However, studies will show that rational leaders, those who do not allow emotions to influence the information coming to them, are far more successful than those who are intellectually more gifted.
How does a person increase their E.I.? There is no simple 1-2-3 program. It really comes down to self-awareness. Do you listen to the voices in your head—the voices of doubt and anxiety? Do you let those voices define meaning to the things people say to you?
In other words, if someone asks you, “Why did you do it that way?” Do you respond in a defensive way or a curious way? People with high E.I. are curious and collective. They see feedback as information to spur improvement.
I’ve been practicing raising my E.I. over the years. There is no doubt that I’m not quite where I want to be, but I’m better than I used to be. And the improvement I’ve made has health benefits. I am not nearly as anxious, my stress levels have completely dropped and I am very level-headed when faced with adversity. It feels good. I’m more in control.
I have learned some really good tools and techniques to tap into my unemotional, logical brain when people send those “zingers” at me. I’d be happy to help you if you wish to learn more.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Do some research, build your E.I. and live healthier!
Make sure to sign up for our next S.L.O.W meeting on Thursday, September 20th!