Navigating Workplace Relationships Through Emotional Insight
Ever felt like you're just not "getting" the people around you at work, or they're not "getting" you? This can help to change all that as we lead you through the advanced development of emotional intelligence. We demystify the five core components: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills, showing us how these skills are just as vital for the everyday employee as they are for the CEO.
This isn't your average leadership talk; it's an essential playbook for anyone in the workforce seeking to understand and leverage their emotions for better workplace dynamics and personal fulfillment. We share personal stories that bring the concept of self-awareness from an abstract idea to a practical tool for self-improvement. The secret sauce to successful coaching and development is a two-pronged approach that starts with a hard look in the mirror, followed by decisive action.
After reading, you'll have the knowledge and inspiration to elevate your emotional intelligence and reshape the way you interact with your colleagues. Whether handling conflicts with grace or motivating your team to new heights, mastering emotional intelligence begins right here.
Understanding emotional intelligence is really required, not just by leaders but also by employees. There are five tenets of emotional intelligence:
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Self-Awareness - looking in the mirror
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Self-Regulation - not being interrupted or disruptive
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Empathy - showing care and understanding of what other people are going through
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Motivation - knowing what turns you on and where you want to go to the next level
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Social Skills - how you carry yourself and interact with other people
There's so much information out there about emotional intelligence and leadership. Yet, we also have to get people who are everyday employees or individual contributors to double down on the understanding of what emotional intelligence is. Why do we need to do that?
First and foremost, when you think about emotional intelligence, it first starts with self-awareness. Which will be the main tenet we'll discuss in this article.
Self-Awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your own moods, emotional reactions and drives, as well as those attributes of others. All of us have that person in our life (or multiple people) who already know you're wrong before you speak your first sentence. That can be very frustrating. Emotional intelligence starts initially with self-awareness, which is truly taking time to reflect and think about how you're perceived and how you come off to others. Here's an example.
I've always had a very healthy relationship with conflict. Unfortunately, some people will portray me as someone who just likes to argue, that I enjoy confronting people. I actually don't; the furthest thing from the truth. I'm comfortable having the conversation of conflict; there's a difference. The reason I share that is that when I'm confronting someone or an issue, I must be extra self-aware of how I'm coming off. Are they focused on my behavior, or is it the issue that I'm bringing up? I'd like to believe I've gotten better at it. Have I perfected it? No, I need to continue to be self-aware.
So, emotional intelligence starts with self-awareness.
For 31 years, we at Progress Coaching present coaching a two-step process.
Step 1 - Get someone to look in the mirror.
Step 2 - Get them to take action.
Very few people do Step 1 arbitrarily on their own. That's where coaching comes in and can truly help someone.
Questions to Help Someone Develop Their Self-Awareness:
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When it comes to self-awareness, what is your understanding of your strengths? Why are those your strengths?
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When it comes to self-awareness, what is your understanding of your opportunities to improve? Why are those areas good opportunities for you, and how will that help you in the future?
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One thing that can block someone's ability to be led or receive feedback is our blind spot, which is a symptom of a lack of self-awareness. What blind spots do you feel you may have? What is your willingness to address them?
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What actions are you positively committed to putting into place to help address any blind spots you may have?
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What action plan are you positively committed to following to help improve your self-awareness?
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