Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionImportanceIn the WorkplaceHow to Become More Emotionally Intelligent

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Definition

Importance

In the Workplace

How to Become More Emotionally Intelligent

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Emotional intelligence is critical for interpersonal communication, not only in personal relationships but also in the business world. This article delves into what emotional intelligence is and how you can harness its power in the workplace.

Emotional Intelligence, Defined

According to psychologists Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, leading researchers on the topic, emotional intelligence is theability to recognize and understand emotions in oneself and others. In turn, this emotional understanding helps usmake decisions, solve problems, and communicate with others.

Psychologists used to viewemotionsand intelligence as being in opposition to one another. In recent decades, however, researchers exploring emotion psychology have become increasingly interested in cognition and affect.

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Why EQ Is Important for Success

Emotion psychology and the concept of emotional intelligence gained interest with the 1995 publication of Daniel Goleman’s “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.” Goleman argues that emotional intelligence is a critical predictor of success in life. Emotional competencies, he argued, play a particularly important role in the workplace.

The concept quickly attracted the attention of human resource managers and business leaders. Researchers have suggested that emotional intelligence influences how well employees interact with their colleagues, manage stress, and navigate conflict. It also affects overall performance on the job. Other studies have linked emotional intelligence with job satisfaction.

Employees with higher scores on measures of EQ also tend to be rated higher on measures of interpersonal functioning, leadership abilities, and stress management.

Goleman suggested that, althoughtraditional intelligencewas associated with leadership success, it alone was not enough. People who are successful at work aren’t just smart; they also have a high EQ.

But emotional intelligence is not just for CEOs and senior managers. It’s important at every level of a person’s career, from college students looking for internships to seasoned employees hoping to take onleadershiproles. If you want to succeed in the workplace and move up the career ladder, emotional intelligence is critical.

7 Habits of Emotionally Intelligent People

Why EQ Matters in the Workplace

Why is emotional intelligence such a valued workplace skill? In a survey of hiring managers, almost 75% of respondents suggested that they valued an employee’sEQ more than their IQ.

Emotional intelligence is widely recognized as a valuable skill that helps improve communication, management, problem-solving, and relationships within the workplace. It is also a skill that researchers believe can be improved with training and practice.

People With High EQMake better decisions and solve problemsKeep cool under pressureResolve conflictsHave greater empathyListen, reflect, and respond to constructive criticismPeople With Low EQPlay the role of the victim or avoid taking responsibility for errorsHave passive or aggressive communication stylesRefuse to work as a teamAre overly critical of others or dismiss others' opinions

People With High EQMake better decisions and solve problemsKeep cool under pressureResolve conflictsHave greater empathyListen, reflect, and respond to constructive criticism

Make better decisions and solve problems

Keep cool under pressure

Resolve conflicts

Have greater empathy

Listen, reflect, and respond to constructive criticism

People With Low EQPlay the role of the victim or avoid taking responsibility for errorsHave passive or aggressive communication stylesRefuse to work as a teamAre overly critical of others or dismiss others' opinions

Play the role of the victim or avoid taking responsibility for errors

Have passive or aggressive communication styles

Refuse to work as a team

Are overly critical of others or dismiss others' opinions

Signs of Low Emotional Intelligence

Althoughemotional skillscome naturally to some people, anyone can improve their ability to understand and reason. This can be particularly helpful in the workplace, where relationships and business decisions often on interpersonal understanding, teamwork, and communication.

Factors such as upbringing andpersonalitytend to play a large role in the development of emotional intelligence, but you can improve yours with effort and practice.

One 2011 study found that participants who trained in key emotional competencies showed lasting improvements in emotional intelligence. They also experienced improvements in physical and mental well-being, better social relationships, and lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

If you are interested in improving your emotional intelligence skills to benefit your workplace performance, take steps to improve your skills in the five categories of emotional intelligence: Self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, and motivation.

Become More Self-Aware

One of the first steps toward using emotional intelligence skills in the workplace is to practice recognizing your own emotions. Self-awareness involves being aware of different aspects of yourself, including your emotions and feelings. It is one of thefoundational components of emotional intelligence. To recognize your emotions and understand their causes, you need to first beself-aware.

How Self-Awareness Develops and Why It Matters

Practice Self-Regulation

Goleman identifiedself-regulationas a critical part of emotional intelligence. Being aware of your emotions is an important first step, but you also need to be able to manage your feelings.

People who possess good self-regulation are able to adapt well to changing situations. They don’t bottle things up; they wait for appropriate ways to express their emotions rather than reacting impulsively.

To improve your self-regulation skills in the workplace:

Improve Social Skills

Research on emotion psychology suggests that people with high EQs also have strong social skills. Because they are adept at recognizing other people’s emotions, they are able to respond appropriately to the situation. Social skills are also highly valued in the workplace because they lead to better communication and a more positive company culture.

Employees and leaders with great social skills are able to build rapport with colleagues and communicate their ideas effectively. People with good social skills are not only great team players, but they are also able to take on leadership roles when needed. To boost your social skills:

Become More Empathetic

Emotionally intelligent people are good at stepping into another person’s shoes and understanding how they feel. Empathy is more than just recognizing how others are feeling. It also involves how you respond to these emotions.

In the workplace, empathy allows you to understand the different dynamics between colleagues and supervisors. It also allows you to recognize who holds power and how it influences the behaviors, feelings, and interactions that flow from such relationships.

What Is Empathy?

Work on Your Motivation

Another key component of emotional intelligence is intrinsic motivation. People who have strong EQ tend to be more motivated to achieve goals for their own sake. Rather than seeking external rewards, they want to do things because they find them fulfilling and they are passionate about what they do.

Intrinsic Motivation: How Internal Rewards Drive Behavior

A Word From Verywell

Emotional intelligence plays an important role not only in well-being but also in your success in the workplace. Fortunately, there are a number of lessons you can take from emotion psychology that will allow you to improve your EQ and foster greater emotional competencies to improve your work performance and career success.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Extremera N, Mérida-López S, Sánchez-Álvarez N, Quintana-Orts C.How does emotional intelligence make one feel better at work? The mediational role of work engagement.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(9):1909. doi:10.3390/ijerph15091909Beenen G, Pichler S, Livingston B, Riggio R.The good manager: development and validation of the managerial interpersonal skills scale.Front Psychol. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631390Career Builder. “Seventy-One Percent of Employers Say They Value Emotional Intelligence Over IQ.“Kotsou I, Nelis D, Grégoire J, Mikolajczak M.Emotional plasticity: Conditions and effects of improving emotional competence in adulthood.J Appl Psychol.2011;96(4):827-39. doi:10.1037/a0023047Additional ReadingBrackett MA, Rivers SE, Salovey P.Emotional intelligence: Implications for personal, social, academic, and workplace success.Soc Personal Psychol Compass.2011;5(1):880103. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00334.xGoleman D.Emotional Intelligence. Bantam 10th anniversary hardcover ed. Bantam Books; 2006.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Extremera N, Mérida-López S, Sánchez-Álvarez N, Quintana-Orts C.How does emotional intelligence make one feel better at work? The mediational role of work engagement.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(9):1909. doi:10.3390/ijerph15091909Beenen G, Pichler S, Livingston B, Riggio R.The good manager: development and validation of the managerial interpersonal skills scale.Front Psychol. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631390Career Builder. “Seventy-One Percent of Employers Say They Value Emotional Intelligence Over IQ.“Kotsou I, Nelis D, Grégoire J, Mikolajczak M.Emotional plasticity: Conditions and effects of improving emotional competence in adulthood.J Appl Psychol.2011;96(4):827-39. doi:10.1037/a0023047Additional ReadingBrackett MA, Rivers SE, Salovey P.Emotional intelligence: Implications for personal, social, academic, and workplace success.Soc Personal Psychol Compass.2011;5(1):880103. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00334.xGoleman D.Emotional Intelligence. Bantam 10th anniversary hardcover ed. Bantam Books; 2006.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Extremera N, Mérida-López S, Sánchez-Álvarez N, Quintana-Orts C.How does emotional intelligence make one feel better at work? The mediational role of work engagement.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(9):1909. doi:10.3390/ijerph15091909Beenen G, Pichler S, Livingston B, Riggio R.The good manager: development and validation of the managerial interpersonal skills scale.Front Psychol. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631390Career Builder. “Seventy-One Percent of Employers Say They Value Emotional Intelligence Over IQ.“Kotsou I, Nelis D, Grégoire J, Mikolajczak M.Emotional plasticity: Conditions and effects of improving emotional competence in adulthood.J Appl Psychol.2011;96(4):827-39. doi:10.1037/a0023047

Extremera N, Mérida-López S, Sánchez-Álvarez N, Quintana-Orts C.How does emotional intelligence make one feel better at work? The mediational role of work engagement.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(9):1909. doi:10.3390/ijerph15091909

Beenen G, Pichler S, Livingston B, Riggio R.The good manager: development and validation of the managerial interpersonal skills scale.Front Psychol. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631390

Career Builder. “Seventy-One Percent of Employers Say They Value Emotional Intelligence Over IQ.”

Kotsou I, Nelis D, Grégoire J, Mikolajczak M.Emotional plasticity: Conditions and effects of improving emotional competence in adulthood.J Appl Psychol.2011;96(4):827-39. doi:10.1037/a0023047

Brackett MA, Rivers SE, Salovey P.Emotional intelligence: Implications for personal, social, academic, and workplace success.Soc Personal Psychol Compass.2011;5(1):880103. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00334.xGoleman D.Emotional Intelligence. Bantam 10th anniversary hardcover ed. Bantam Books; 2006.

Brackett MA, Rivers SE, Salovey P.Emotional intelligence: Implications for personal, social, academic, and workplace success.Soc Personal Psychol Compass.2011;5(1):880103. doi:10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00334.x

Goleman D.Emotional Intelligence. Bantam 10th anniversary hardcover ed. Bantam Books; 2006.

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