Emotion in Business
I have often heard the comment “emotion has no place in business”. This has come from bosses where the general rule is to check in with the boss’s secretary what mood he is in before approaching him on difficult issues. As far as I am aware, the business world ia occupied by warm blooded, emotional creatures called human beings.
So what? Why should I be paying any attention to emotional intelligence in the workplace?
…because being clever isn’t enough
Research has shown that up to two thirds of success factors can be attributed to EI rather IQ. (The Business Case for EI) It makes sense to spend effort on developing something that makes a difference. In the first article on emotional intelligence (EI) I read, “you are born with your IQ and you cannot increase it, however, EI could be developed”. I remember the delight with which I greeted this news. There was hope for me!! I wasn’t the smartest kid on the block, but here was something I could do that would make a difference.
As a coach there are many ways of working with EI. The client can identify the gaps in the elements of EI that make a difference and set targets for improvements. If you want to be more scientific, the Hay Group offer an on-line 360° assessment. This provides anonymous feedback on how others rate your EI and more importantly how your own rating compares to theirs.
They say that the higher you rise in organisations, the more delusional you become as staff are afraid to give honest feedback. If you are not sure about your EI, why not get a coach and do the 360° assessment.
The Hay Group have a long-standing partnership with EI pioneers Dr Daniel Goleman and Dr Richard Boyatzis. Research originally included up to 50 elements of EI, but extensive research has shown the elements below to be the ones that make the most difference.
- Self awareness
- Achievement orientation
- Adaptability
- Emotional self-control
- Positive outlook
- Empathy
- Organisational awareness
- Conflict management
- Coach and Mentor
- Influence
- Inspirational Leadership
- Teamwork
Mariane Vorster is a business coach providing EI assessment among her solution offerings. To find out more visit her website: http://www.mybusinesscoach.co.za
For more on assessments go to the Hay Group Website http://www.haygroup.com/leadershipandtalentondemand/Products/Emotional_inteligence.aspx
You can also download the following PDF file: The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence
