February 22, 2014

Emotional Intelligence is the Most Desirable Employability Competency

Caroline Dowd-Higgins Career Wisdom active listening; body language, Emotional Intelligence 101, verbal cues

Emotional Intelligence (EI) describes the ability identify, assess, manage and control the emotions of one’s self, of others, and of groups. In addition to having a cadre of transferable skills relevant to a particular career field, employers are looking for candidates with sound emotional intelligence when hiring.

Emotional Intelligence helps us connect and communicate with colleagues on a deeper level. In this very global world-of-work, EI helps us create stronger multi-cultural relationships and celebrate differences by allowing distinctive points of view to be valued.

Typically, people fee confident about their own reality but the key to Emotional Intelligence is to help others to be heard so their reality is honored. The cues for EI are relayed through body language as well as verbal and written communication. A savvy emotionally intelligent person is able to pick up on feelings or emotions hidden beneath the words and use that awareness to build stronger professional relationships in the workplace.

Here are some tips to help polish your Emotional Intelligence skills:

Instead of focusing on yourself at work, shift the focus of engagement to others.
Practice active listening and connect with your eyes, ears, and heart to what a person is saying.
Slow down and really focus on the person you are interacting with.
Notice body language and become aware of another person’s comfort zone posture.
Utilize validating language instead of always questioning or probing.
Authenticate what they have said without judgment.
Be in the moment and maximize the way you engage with others.
If you sense frustration or heightened emotions, repeat back to them what you have heard to establish clarity.
Respond to others the way you would want them to respond to you.

Awareness is half the battle with Emotional Intelligence. Experiment with your Emotional Intelligence IQ and note your consciousness and responsiveness with colleagues in a given day. If you feel the need to make adjustments, do so incrementally and begin to listen more actively to plan your strategy. Mastering EI is an investment in building, maintaining, and stewarding your professional relationships.