Managing emotions

“Emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, more than I.Q. or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work… I.Q. is a threshold competence. You need it, but it doesn’t make you a star.
Emotional intelligence can.”
Warren G. Bennis

With our focus in 2023 on helping your people communicate more effectively, this week we put a spotlight on emotional intelligence, a critical skill for leaders that is foundational for effective communication.

When tensions are high due to uncertainty, economic downturns, heavy workloads, societal differences, disagreements, or increased pressure to do more with less, leaders need to be prepared to deal with intense emotions that can be magnified by group dynamics. Establishing a culture of psychological safety and a sense of belonging that cascades throughout the organization can go a long way toward assuring your people that their challenges are being heard and understood.

A new article in Harvard Business Review describes 4 strategies from the field of psychology that can help leaders regulate collective emotions. It gives examples on how some CEOs used these strategies to turn negativity into a positive force.

Steve Jobs, for instance, used distraction to divert his people at Apple from a streak of jealousy over rival Microsoft’s success that was hindering their progress by making a deal with Bill Gates. In another example, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella used reappraisal to reframe a team’s AI disaster as a transformative learning experience.

Dale Carnegie said, “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.”

Is developing an awareness of the emotional intelligence in yourorganization a part of your strategy for 2023? Contact us or talk to your Advantage partner to learn more about boosting your organization’s emotional intelligence via BlueEQ or helping your people feel they belong with The Inclusive Leader.

One great thing for 01.10.23 – The BlueEQ™ mini learning journey
Boost your openness, relationships, and impulse control