Did you know that the strongest predictor of success in the 21st century workspace is emotional intelligence? In fact, certain skills that are encompassed by emotional intelligence have been ranked among the top 10 skills deemed to be of greatest importance for workers in 2023 by the World Economic Forum.
So, what’s emotional intelligence, how does emotional intelligence training work, and how can you benefit from it in the workspace and beyond?
What is emotional intelligence?
The term emotional intelligence (also known as EI or EQ) was coined by two American psychologists, Peter Salovey and John Mayer, and brought into fashion by Dan Goleman in his book of the same name. Emotional intelligence refers to your ability to recognize emotions in yourself and others, and the ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.
“The emotionally intelligent person is skilled in four areas: identifying emotions, using emotions, understanding emotions, and regulating emotions,” as Salovey and Mayer write in their research.
Emotional intelligence is a power skill that can be learned and developed to help you advance in your personal and professional life.
What is Emotional Intelligence Training?
Emotional intelligence training is a process that aims to increase individuals’ fluency in emotional intelligence. The training typically focuses on improving participants’ understanding and management of their own emotions as well as their ability to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. elev8 carry out an integrated approach to emotional intelligence training, by using a mixture of learning paths and methodologies to meet individual learning styles and aims.
Why is Emotional Intelligence Training Important in the Workplace?
Emotional intelligence has a tremendous impact on your professional success and the success of your organization. The World Economic Forum studied people working in various industries and found that 90% of top performers are also high in emotional intelligence.
Moreover, research by TalentSmart tested emotional intelligence alongside 33 other important workplace skills and found that it’s the strongest predictor of performance, explaining a full 58% of success in all types of jobs. It turns out that emotional intelligence is especially important for leadership roles.
How Does Emotional Intelligence Help Managers & Leaders?
”When it comes to building strong leaders, organizations are now turning to the concept of emotional intelligence to help give leaders a new type of intelligence edge above and beyond technical aptitudes,” wrote the authors of a Hay Group study that surveyed 44 Fortune 500 companies.
The study concluded that organizations that value and widely use emotional intelligence are 3.2x more effective at leadership development.
Emotional intelligence in practice
What does improved emotional intelligence look like within the workplace? It begins with the following:
Self Awareness
Employees are better able to understand their own biases, when they might be reacting badly to things, or how their actions may impact those around them. This kind of understanding is a critical foundation for improving behaviors.
Self-Management
Building from that self-understanding is self-management. This is when employees are able to use techniques to address emotions at the moment. This could be as simple as counting backwards or doing a breathing exercise, but in a heated moment, it makes all the difference. These techniques help minimize conflict within the workplace.
Social Awareness
The last step is social awareness, wherein employees become more aware of the network of relationships which make their workplace run. This step uses empathy to empower employees to better understand each other, improving listening, collaboration, and relationship management.
But how can employees implement these steps in the workplace?
How to Improve Emotional Intelligence Training in the Workspace
Higher emotional intelligence in the workspace has been associated with better employee engagement, retention, and job satisfaction. According to a recent report by Harvard Business Review, emotionally intelligent companies are capable of engaging and empowering their workforce while cultivating interpersonal skills that allow employees to develop innovative solutions.
Nevertheless, formal upskilling appears to be more closely focused on technology skills, while emotional intelligence skills are less frequently targeted with formal reskilling, according to The Jobs of the Future report published by the World Economic Forum. That’s why the importance of focused emotional intelligence training is only increasing. It’s not enough to simply mention its importance in a staff meeting. Improving emotional intelligence requires focused effort.
How to improve self-awareness in the workplace
- Seek feedback: Ask your colleagues for constructive feedback on your behavior and performance.
- Reflect on your actions: Take time to reflect on your behavior and actions, and consider how you can improve.
- Accept responsibility: Take responsibility for your actions and decisions, and learn from your mistakes.
- Learn about yourself: Use personality assessments or other tools to gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses.
How to improve self-management in the workplace
- Set clear priorities: Identify your most important tasks and prioritize them accordingly.
- Use time management strategies: Utilize time management techniques such as to-do lists, calendars, and schedules to effectively manage your time.
- Develop a growth mindset: Embrace a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for learning and growth.
- Take initiative: Be proactive in taking on new tasks and responsibilities and don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do.
How to improve social awareness in the workplace
- Practice active listening: Listen actively to your colleagues to gain a better understanding of their perspectives and feelings.
- Be mindful of diversity: Be aware of the differences in background, culture, and experiences of your colleagues.
- Practice inclusion: Include others in discussions and decision-making processes to foster a sense of community.
- Be a team player: Work collaboratively with your colleagues, and support them in achieving their goals.
Benefits of High Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence training allows you to model better behavior, work directly with employees on applying skills to work situations, and provide a space for open reflection on the topic. It also communicates the seriousness of the topic to those who may not realize its importance.
The results can be transformative, as employees and managers become better equipped to communicate, collaborate, and improve their performance. But more than those immediate results, building a workplace culture which values emotional intelligence establishes a foundation for long-term success through happier, more productive, and more engaged employees.
Frequently Asked Questions on Emotional Intelligence Training
Who can benefit from emotional intelligence training?
Emotional intelligence training can benefit individuals across various personal and professional contexts. For example, elev8 provide emotional intelligence training programs for employees at all levels within an organisation e.g. Professionals in leadership positions, customer-facing roles and more. However, training is not limited to these areas, as emotional intelligence training can also be beneficial for non-professional situations and students and/or educational institutions.
How long does emotional intelligence training typically last?
The length of emotional intelligence training needed can vary depending on several factors, including the specific objectives of the training, the depth of the content covered, and the delivery format e.g. physical or virtual. Emotional intelligence training can range from short workshops to comprehensive strategic programs spanning multiple sessions. If you’re looking for a more accurate duration, it’s recommended that you contact an emotional intelligence training provider.
Can emotional intelligence be developed and improved through training?
Emotional intelligence can be improved through training. Some individuals naturally possess certain aspects of emotional intelligence, however the skills and competencies associated with emotional intelligence can be learned and enhanced over time.
How can I measure the effectiveness of emotional intelligence training?
The effectiveness of emotional intelligence training can be measured effectively through key metrics, such as self-assessments, colleague feedback, pre and post-training assessments, performance metrics and follow-up assessments. However, it’s important to choose metrics that align with the specific aims of your training, to ensure the effectiveness can be monitored optimally.
Emotional Intelligence Training for your Employees
At Elev8, we know that success in the digital era requires the right blend of tech, power, and business skills. Our training programs combine key power skills like emotional intelligence with the most relevant cutting-edge technologies to equip you and your workforce with the skills needed to succeed in 2022 and beyond.
Want to build an emotionally intelligent workforce and ensure your business success? Learn more.
