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In the workplace, emotional intelligence (EI) can be closely tied to the mental health of employees. By understanding and managing their emotions effectively, employees can experience improved self-esteem, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. This, in turn, can lead to enhanced productivity and job satisfaction.
It’s worth noting that emotional intelligence is not an inherent quality, but a skill that can be developed with practice and training.
This is because issues with mental health are often due to the inability to manage distressing emotions. Therefore, cultivating emotional intelligence skills can have a positive impact on mental health, reducing the prevalence of disorders and improving overall well-being in the workplace.
Understanding how to manage stress on your team and educating your entire organization on mental health best practices is one important way to improve morale and make your workplace a safe, welcoming place for all employees. And, as the world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to navigate difficult emotions and build strong relationships will be essential.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage, understand and regulate emotions for oneself and help others do the same. It’s an increasingly popular skill in the workplace, especially among leaders, because of the benefits that stem from it.
“It’s a powerful tool for managing a peaceful mind,” says Martyn Newman PhD, executive chairman of RocheMartin, in this video. “It’s really one of the most profound frameworks, I think from a clinical-psychological point of view, for helping people manage and maintain happiness and their mental health.”
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The challenges that stand in the way of developing high emotional intelligence often come from within. Some struggle with self-awareness and self-management — or knowing themselves and how their emotions affect them.
Naturally, external factors also affect one’s ability to develop this skill. Learning how to interpret others’ emotions and feelings can help develop higher emotional intelligence. However, it’s not always easy to read others. Even tougher, the practice of building and maintaining healthy relationships takes time.
Specifically, people who seek to elevate their emotional intelligence run into these challenges:
Developing and maintaining high EI can be challenging. It requires us to be open to feedback, willing to change, and able to manage difficult emotions. However, the rewards of high EI are significant. People with high EI are more likely to be successful in their careers, have healthier relationships, and live happier lives.
Improving EI in the workplace requires a commitment from your organization’s leaders, as well as careful consideration and planning. Here are some ways you might begin this journey:
Remember, it's crucial to tailor these strategies to the specific needs and contexts of your workplace. Continual evaluation and feedback are also important to ensure the effectiveness of these interventions.
As leaders strive to improve their emotional intelligence at work, Skillsoft offers several courses that teach about psychological safety, anger management and more. See the Emotional Intelligence channel here.