Some scenarios on how Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can help you in People Problems in the workplace

The stress that gets to you is about your People

By now you must have surely heard of Emotional Intelligence or EQ in short. But you probably think it is a luxury to have that skill and you can still manage your day to day work matters without it. Think again! Perhaps you have mentioned this to your friend or colleagues - The stress that gets to you is about managing your People. Or mentioned something close to this …..end of the day ‘People Problem’ is a major stressor for many a manager and probably for you as well.

Did you know that EQ is an important skill or in fact the most important skill a manager needs to overcome People related Problems in the workplace? If you are not sure; this blog post is for you.

Emotional intelligence or EQ is a critical skill that you need to possess to succeed in the workplace. It involves recognizing your own emotions (self-awareness), understanding others' emotions (empathy), and using this knowledge to navigate interpersonal relationships effectively. It is a vital skill that helps build strong relationships, enhance communication, and fosters teamwork. In this blog, we will explore some scenarios of how EQ can help dealing with people problems in the workplace.

Scenario 1:

A team leader is displaying signs of anger and frustration during team meetings due to a lack of progress on a project. This situation can negatively impact team morale and productivity if not addressed effectively. Because the team leader is unaware of how his feelings are affecting the team members (lack of Self-awareness; a component in EQ). Using EQ, the team can take the initiative and work together to find solutions to the problem. The team leader can be approached and provided with support and empathy. ( Empathy is another component of EQ Skills) This approach can help the team members be more proactive, be less of the victims and have a sense of control. This can possibly lead to constructive dialogues and brainstorming sessions that benefit the entire team. making it a wholesome team effort.

Scenario 2:

A colleague is constantly interrupting others during team meetings, leading to disruptions and miscommunications. Rather than directly accusing the colleague of interrupting, an EQ skilled Manager’s response would involve seeking to understand and then speaking with the colleague privately using a caring and positive tone. Seek first to understand before being understood is a key technique for Empathy. The conversation can be about finding the true reasons for the disruptions and working together to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinions and be heard. Through deep understanding and ‘walking in the colleague’s shoes’ which is what empathy is all about, the colleague is made to feel he/she is being understood but not necessarily condoned for the disruptive behavior. This puts both parties in a correct footing to seek solutions for a better outcome at future meetings .

Scenario 3:

A co-worker who consistently struggles to keep pace with the team's progress and is falling behind on key performance indicators. This situation could lead to frustration and tension within the team if not addressed with EQ. An empathetic approach would involve understanding the co-worker's situation and situationally adapting so the team can work together to find ways to bridge the gap.

If correctly applied, the non-performing co-worker does not feel threatened and neither will he/she have a need to cover up or make unjustified excuses - as is usually the case. The key here is the non-performer is not threatened or has a need to finds ways to keep his non-performance hidden, This will open up opportunities for other co-workers and team members to seek opportunities to help their colleague. This method of approaching the problem can help the team find solutions that work best for everyone, leading to increased collaboration and improved performance.

It goes without saying that emotional intelligence is a critical skill for dealing with people problems in the workplace. And it is time for every manager and Leader to be aware of their own skill levels of Emotional Intelligence. The good news is EQ can be trained or coached.

With the examples above, Managers can appreciate how to handle various scenarios in a way that promotes a healthy workplace environment. It goes without saying that effective communication, collaboration, and empathy help foster and maintain positive work relationships that drive success in any organization. True Leaders should strive to become more accountable for improving their own EQ further to enhance their career development and contribute to a positive work culture.