What is Emotional Intelligence?
"Emotional Intelligence is the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships empathetically."
Let's look at how exactly having improved emotional intelligence can improve your career prospects:
1. Firstly self-awareness, one of the key components of emotional intelligence, enables us to recognise our strengths and challenges. It helps us to maintain balance, manage stress and to question our motives and ultimate behaviour. Self-awareness grounds us to a degree and without being grounded it is impossible to perform a pirouette, never mind a series of them at high speed!
2. Secondly emotional intelligence requires us to develop empathy and understanding for the viewpoint of another, this means we need to develop deep listening skills and critical thinking habits ensuring that we are equipped with the best possible tools for balanced decision making.
3. Being self-aware on its own is not necessarily sufficient, we also need to know how to apply this knowledge to ensure that we manage our emotions in a way that brings us the results we want. It is essential that we develop the self-control that forms the first channel of leadership development in our highly interconnected world. You will not even get out of the wings without self-control. The stage will remain off limits to you. On the other hand if you can turn a failing crew and performance around, you are likely to be in the running for the next lead role.
4. Finally emotional intelligence requires a strong aspect of self-motivation and inner discipline. It's a no-brainer actually, both audience and producers are looking to the crew to perform well, engage them and to bring a certain zing to the stage. If it's not there, the reviews will reflect that.
Emotional Intelligence is a skill, that means it can be developed. And making the decision to invest in Emotional Intelligence training is one that will benefit you and your organisation in the long run!
Staff Training offers quite a few workshops on the topic of Emotional Intelligence. Email us at info@StaffTraining.co.za for more info or give us a call at 0861 996 660
© Debbie Engelbrecht
Debbie Engelbrecht is the MD of Staff Training, established in 2001. She is a soft skills facilitator and management coach and strives to enthuse, assist and empower her fellow South Africans wherever she has the skill to do so.