Using Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Have you ever encountered an easily-irritated manager that gets disgruntled over every bump in the road? Does this encounter make you feel anxious or as if you are a burden to the company? That right there is what we call - emotional contagion. Emotions can easily be transferred among individuals and if not controlled, this can create a bad workplace culture. As a leader, you should be able to properly manage your emotions and collaborate with your employees in a professional manner.

The most important thing to remember here is how our emotions can affect other people. Emotions spread like wildfire. Once we have an angry boss, everyone follows. We can really begin to control this phenomenon once we recognize and understand the emotions in ourselves and in one another.

Psychologists coin the term “labeling” for properly defining our emotions. One should consider the intensity of the emotion and reflect on this feeling. As we become aware of this, we can get to know these negative emotions and their roots and how to manage them at any given time. This can allow leaders to make better decisions and solve problems.

Another important factor is having empathy in the workplace. It is crucial to put yourself in the shoes of someone else and try to understand how they are feeling. Once you can process their thoughts, you should show compassion and understanding. You will gain the respect of your subordinates as well as your bosses with this empathetic understanding of all.

Emotional intelligence is one of the most important skills that leaders can possess in the workplace. It is not easy to do, but once we take the extra effort to understand these feelings and react in a professional manner, success in both you and the business will follow.