All leaders face the challenge of understanding their employees and how people think, but not all leaders know how to deal with everyone effectively. Emotionally intelligent leadership is a skill that is necessary for any leader to succeed within an organization.
This type of leadership works to understand each person’s emotions, motives, needs, goals, and intentions in order to harness motivation from them and identify what drives success for individuals on the team as well as the team as a whole. It also allows your employees to respect you more because they feel like you recognize who they are as individuals rather than just another person on the team doing their job.
What Is EQ?
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It’s generally accepted that people with high EQs make the best leaders. EQ is a powerful way to focus your energy in a positive direction toward building great relationships instead of getting pulled into the drama that surrounds dysfunction.
In today’s world, it can be challenging for anyone to balance their home life with their work-life due to busy schedules, long working hours, and simply not having enough time in a day because of technology allowing us 24/7 access from anywhere in the world. This brings up the question: Should a leader have a separate approach at work than they do at home? As an emotionally intelligent leader, you might look at your employees in a different light than you do when you are at home with your own family.
Benefits Of EQ In The Workplace
Inclusive Work Environment
Since being emotionally intelligent helps workers at all levels of an organization better understand themselves and others around them, it creates a more inclusive work environment. Emotionally intelligent leaders recognize their own differences and embrace them in a similar fashion. With diversity being a core component to the nature of emotionally intelligent leadership, it naturally follows that this type of leader will also be more aware of diversity in the workplace.
Competitive Advantage
Emotionally intelligent leaders view diverse workforces as a competitive advantage in business because they know many customers have different needs from each other when buying products or services from a company. A diverse workforce allows an organization to better understand these needs and provide high-quality products and services that meet those needs for all customers rather than just one niche market. In order to accomplish this, companies need to hire qualified candidates from varying backgrounds who reflect the diverse customer base they want to attract. This creates an environment where employees can perform at their highest level and build a memorable customer service experience.
Diverse Needs Of Consumers
Having the ability to view the diverse needs of consumers and appreciate them individually is exactly what makes an effective, emotionally intelligent leader. It’s not enough to just hire a diverse workforce; you also need someone who is capable of understanding the value in it on both a personal and professional level. Emotionally intelligent leaders know how valuable it is for employees, customers, and their companies when they welcome diversity into the work environment with open arms.
Expert Tip
Diversity and employee relations Jason Greer is a CEO, media personality, keynote speaker, and bestseller known as the Employee Whisperer.
“Emotionally intelligent leaders understand that the key component to fostering a diverse work environment can be found in understanding the internal stories that make up the emotional and mental fabric of the people they manage. Taking the time to get to know their employees on a personal level and conveying the belief that they matter helps to create a more dynamic work environment. This is especially important in diverse workplaces. Emotionally intelligent leaders understand that it is critically important to make members of diverse groups feel seen, heard and appreciated for their contributions to the team and the organization as a whole.”
Knowing how to be an emotionally intelligent leader is all about building trust and knowing when to step back and let employees find their own way, even if that means they might make mistakes or face failure. It’s also about knowing when to step up and provide encouragement and motivation for others who need it in order for them to succeed in life and eventually in their career.
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