Has Your Team’s Legs Gone Wobbly? Consider Emotional Intelligence
By Cindy Halvorson with the Leadership Development Team
Recently, we were working with a team that had encountered some significant changes. Transition can make a once-solid team question whether they can count on each other. Individuals begin to operate out of their anxiety, misread the room, and isolate themselves from one another. As you can imagine, this team was feeling a bit wobbly on their “team legs.” To help them provide more solid footing, this team opted to engage in an emotional intelligence workshop. After each person completed the EQi assessment, we gathered together in person to learn about the broader concepts of emotional intelligence and especially to unpack their individual results and the impact on the group. During the discussion, one of the team members sighed and said, “I wish I could meet with someone individually to just discuss MY stuff.”
This is not an uncommon refrain. While group work is beneficial, especially to unpack group dynamics, individuals can experience valuable insights through one-on-one guidance. That’s why LeaderWise offers 1:1 coaching specific to emotional intelligence.
What is emotional intelligence?
As described in a model put forth in the groundbreaking book Primal Leadership, emotional intelligence is the ability to manage your emotions and to relate effectively to others. It is composed of four primary competencies that build on each other:
Self-awareness and self-regulation
social awareness and social regulation
As we become more aware of how we show up (self-awareness), we stand a chance to regulate our actions (self-regulation). Similarly, once we’re more easily aware of our own “stuff,” we can begin to read the room (social awareness) and then work with what is in the emotional space (social management). All of that work then frees us up to meet the organizational priorities and goals.
Research consistently shows that more predictive of effectiveness in the workplace than your academic training, administrative acumen, or native intelligence is emotional intelligence, hands down. Research has also shown that emotionally intelligent leaders are more resilient.
LeaderWise uses the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQi) to assess aspects of emotional intelligence including: self-awareness, self-confidence, emotional expression, assertiveness, independence, problem solving, empathy, impulse control, stress tolerance, flexibility and more. Following the completion of the EQi, a client works 1:1 with a psychologist or coach who will provide individualized feedback on strengths and will help determine areas for development. From there, monthly coaching allows the client the time to practice different behaviors and then reflect 1:1 with the coach about how it went and what adjustments might be recommended. Coaching provides a space for growth.
Leadership of all kinds, but especially leadership that tends to the soul, requires intentionality around emotional connection. It fortifies our relationships - not only with others but also with our sense of self (and often with S/spirit) - adding higher levels of fulfillment to our lives.
Listening to the head and the heart can allow a person’s leadership to develop in ways that intellect alone cannot.
And here’s the gift: emotional intelligence is a skill set that can be learned and refined.
To learn more about emotional intelligence and coaching, contact us.
