EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE has become one of the most important parameters for success in the corporate world today. The term emotional intelligence means acknowledging and managing one’s feelings, understanding other’s feelings and then responding appropriately and effectively, so that people can work together smoothly and fulfill personal as well organizational goals.

In an organizational set-up an individual has to work in groups along with people having different ideas, suggestions and opinions. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role at such juncture. The person has to learn to control and manage his moods and impulses because effective use of his skill and knowledge depends largely on the effective regulation of emotions.
Our emotions and mood swings have a huge impact on the problem at hand. If we have better control over emotions, it will help us to find creative and workable solutions to the problem at hand. Whereas, in a bad bout of mood we may create even bigger problems or give unrealistic solutions to problems.

Hence, the need to be emotionally intelligent at the workplace can’t be undermined. At the same time it is not something that can be learnt overnight. It is largely learnt through life’s experiences. To develop emotional intelligence, individuals can follow the techniques given below:

 Take responsibility for your emotions.

 Instead of evaluating other people’s motives and actions, watch your own emotions and feelings.

 Identify your mood swings. Relax when there is a rush of emotions and get going when you are feeling low.

 Respect other’s feelings and try to incorporate their view point in decision making.

 Acknowledge your negative feelings and try to reduce them.

 Always give clear explanations to people working with you. Develop organizational culture that supports learning. Make use of persuasion rather than punishment to get the desired results.

It is increasingly recognized that IQ may account for about 20 per cent of an individual’s success in life. The remaining 80 per cent depends largely on his emotional intelligence. A person with an IQ level of 180 is not worth it, if he can’t relate to anyone in the organization and can’t manage himself and others working with him effectively.

Thanks

Ravendra Kumar Saraswat