How to leverage emotional intelligence in the workplace

In light of recent developments, emotional intelligence has become one of the important and influential factors in our lives, it helps in the success of both the individual and the organization. Emotional intelligence in the workplace has a great impact, as it helps in understanding emotions and working to employ them positively with others at work. It affects the individual and society significantly, and also works to increase productivity in the organization, and contributes significantly to the development of relations between employees.

Many studies have proven that emotional intelligence is more important than cognitive intelligence (i.e., emotion outweighs knowledge), and an individual can excel in many fields if he has emotional intelligence regardless of his cognitive intelligence, which reflects the importance of emotional intelligence in life.

Now, this article will show you how to leverage emotional intelligence in the workplace, by discussing the concept of emotional intelligence and its importance, showing the impact of emotional intelligence, and how to develop it in the workplace.

First: the concept of emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to identify, understand, use feelings and emotions appropriately, and work to manage them in order to reduce stress and deal effectively with others. Emotional intelligence can also be used to address any difficulties, and work to face them appropriately.

Emotional intelligence has five basic aspects:

1. Self-awareness: It means the ability to identify personal feelings, emotions and control them, which needs the existence of internal self-confidence in addition to the need for emotional awareness.
2. Self-regulation: It is meant to control all negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, depression and nervousness. This happens by following methods that are concerned with managing negative feelings and emotions, and the most important of these methods is to turn a blind eye to any negativity and follow the system of thinking positively, in addition to approaching God, and it is also possible to practice yoga and meditation exercises.
3. Self-motivation: Self-motivation can be achieved by following a set of goals to be implemented, continuous encouragement and insistence on achieving them, turning a blind eye to any cause of despair and continuing to strive, determine and have hope in order to reach these desired goals.
4. Sympathy: The meaning here is the ability to understand the feelings and emotions of others and give them a helping hand. Taking into account the feeling of others makes you more emotional, and always remember: "Who has mercy, will have mercy."
5. Social skills: These are the skills of the individual's dealing with others. When this individual is keen to develop and strengthen his social skills, he also progresses at the professional level.

Second: The importance of emotional intelligence within the work environment

Emotional intelligence is one of the main factors that help improve the work environment and contribute to increasing production. It encourages the individual to deal effectively with others within work through several strategies that help him cooperate and work collectively without fear or anxiety. When a person has a high level of emotional intelligence in the work environment, he is able to understand the feelings and emotions of others, and thus he can communicate with them in an effective way, which leads to strengthening relationships between them.

Emotional intelligence can also be leveraged by overcoming stress and stressors, and properly managing crises.

The importance of emotional intelligence also lies in an individual's ability to control his reactions when exposed to difficult situations, and this is very important for working in a healthy environment.

The development of the emotional intelligence of employees in the organization increases the ability to adapt to any changes that may occur in the organization. In addition, emotional intelligence is a powerful tool that helps motivate individuals. The more attention and appreciation they pay to individuals within the work, the more committed and interested they are in their work.

Emotional intelligence also helps in making the best decisions, and helps in working under pressure, thus achieving success for the entire organization.

Third: The impact of emotional intelligence on professional life

Many studies have indicated that emotional intelligence has a significant impact on an individual's performance at work; it helps the individual to work under pressure, and it also helps him to achieve a great deal of success. In addition, the impact of emotional intelligence extends to the ability to resolve conflicts and the ability to negotiate differences within work, and this leads to making the work environment safer and more successful, dominated by friendliness and cooperation among all its members.

Fourth: How to develop emotional intelligence to benefit from it in the work environment

Developing emotional intelligence in order to benefit in the work environment requires effort and constant pursuit. Here are some ways to help do this:

1. Self-awareness practice: This can be applied by meditation to monitor your thoughts and feelings, and you can write down your diary by making me understand your feelings by analyzing everyday situations.
2. Overcoming negative feelings and emotions: such as failure, frustration and anger, through prudence in making important decisions, practicing some exercises, and having hope and patience. You must also learn how to benefit from these feelings and use them differently away from haste and intolerance.
3. Strengthen empathy skills: This is done by understanding, helping and listening to others.
4. Developing social skills: through the use of appropriate language to deal with others in order to take into account the feeling of everyone. It is also possible to cooperate and work in a team to strengthen social relations.
5. Strengthening self-motivation: through encouragement, perseverance and thinking positively.
6. Leadership: This happens when a person succeeds in influencing others and becomes an inspiring person and role model, when he is cooperative, flexible, accepting criticism, and is able to understand everyone and provide emotional support to his colleagues.
7. Crisis management: This happens through training and focusing on positives, trying to find quick solutions and alternatives, mastering working under pressure through good time management and reconciling personal and professional life.
8. Overcoming failure: It is normal for a person to be exposed to difficulties, but a good person with a high level of emotional intelligence can overcome failure by facing difficulties, advancing again without despair, and renew the hope inside it by building new goals and working on them within the work environment.

In conclusion, emotional intelligence is one of the important tools that help improve the work environment and enhance professional performance. By developing emotional intelligence, the individual is able to understand his feelings and emotions, can better control the management of these feelings, and this leads to strong interaction with others at work, which reduces the likelihood of quarrels and helps resolve any conflicts that may occur.

Emotional intelligence in the workplace strengthens social skills, leading to increased cooperation and concern for teamwork. By taking advantage of emotional intelligence, the individual is able to make the best decisions and work under any pressure effectively. Emotional intelligence also helps to overcome failure by investing his emotional skills in a way that enables him to get up again and face any challenges.

Therefore, all organizations must train their employees on how to benefit from emotional intelligence and provide them with the necessary skills, in order to capitalize on the impact of emotional intelligence on the individual and society.