Lessons Learned - 8 Business EQ Strategies

The formal description of Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ) is the capability of individuals to recognize their own, and other people’s emotions, to discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and to manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one’s goals.

The more common description is the other kind of smart. When you have a high EQ, you better understand yourself, those around you and the world in general.

Our business EQ is the ability to manage the 8 critical key emotions/behaviors that determine success in different work situations. The 8 emotions/behaviors are:

Decisiveness

Willingness to make decisions, the need for control and the level of comfort with decision making responsibility.

Motivation

Level of energy, passion, drive and enthusiasm for work, being optimistic and positive, the need for achievement and challenge.

Influence

The drive to influence others and persuade them, to be heard and have an impact.

Adaptability

The desire for, and enjoyment of, variety in the workplace; the capacity to keep an open mind and be flexible with different and creative approaches.

Empathy

The ability to recognize, be sensitive to and consider others’ feelings, needs and perspectives. The need to understand, to help and work with others.

Conscientiousness

The need to plan and have structure, be diligent and meet deadlines; the level of comfort with conforming and following the rules.

Stress Resilience

The capability to relax and deal with the day to day pressures of work; the level of comfort with showing and managing emotions e.g. can control/hide temper with provoked.

Self-Awareness

The conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives and desires.

In the webinar, PM in Theory – 8 Business Emotional Intelligence Strategies, Brenda Williams, Founder and CEO, Academy for Leadership Communication and Board Certified Coach shares her vast expertise on the topic. She shows us how to think about where you are on a 1-10 scale of each of the 8 and how people who are on a different place on the scale deal with issues and challenges.

Research shows that using your EQ improves your leadership capabilities, your team effectiveness, your management potential, organizational & cultural changes, your ability to recruit, selection, train and coach others. Essentially, those who can effectively manage their own & others’ emotions and behaviors in difficult situations are more successful.

Critical to your business EQ is your comfort zone. Everyone has different comfort zones and what stresses or motivates one person might not affect someone else. The farther outside and the longer you need to stay outside the comfort zone, the more effect there will be on our behavior. When a problem arises, stop and think about both your comfort zone and that of the other person.

Being effective and productive in the workplace is greatly affected by EQ. Delivering successful projects comes down to leading and inspiring others. Developing your emotional intelligence helps you realize and raise your potential!