Still with the repercussions of Covid-19 (increased levels of stress and social isolation), organizations are increasingly emphasizing the mental health and well-being of their employees. However, organizations still need to implement several strategies in this field, namely to increase the well-being of employees, through leadership based on empathy.

An increase in Emotional Intelligence (EI) becomes essential in organizations, especially with regard to the levels of motivation of teams. Let’s list 5 tips that can be useful to put into practice in the organization, in order to increase the IE of employees and their leaders.

 

Emotional Intelligence means being vulnerable

As a general rule, leaders are responsible for creating an authentic and real business culture, that is, being open with employees. Teams need to hear feedback about their performance but also about setting expectations.

In the context of teleworking, you can, for example, mention that in a video call there is no problem if a child eventually appears, such as leaving the meeting briefly when necessary. Employees need to understand that everyone is a human being and that they can go through certain experiences together.

 

Emotional Intelligence means being self-aware

At the heart of EI, self-awareness is one of the least developed areas in leaders. Effectively, we can only work effectively with others if we know each other well.

An exercise that can help develop self-awareness is to spend a few minutes writing down your thoughts and feelings before starting your workday.

Also, assess your strengths and the aspects you need to improve. Once you enter and begin to develop your self-awareness, you will be able to observe your emotions instead of impulsively reacting to them.

 

Emotional Intelligence means practicing empathy

When we talk about empathy, we see that it has several components, including mental awareness, communication and even body language (eg, observing the tone of voice of others). When interacting with your team, try to take these aspects into account. Employees prefer leaders who know them and care about them as people.

 

Emotional Intelligence means communicating effectively

The lack of effective communication in the work context leads to frustration among employees. Leaders who consider emotional intelligence and those who put it into practice in their organization have a greater ability to influence, persuade and connect with their teams.

Effective communication can eliminate obstacles and foster stronger relationships at work. As soon as employees perceive their role and contribute to maintaining empathic relationships, for example, there is a sense of accomplishment.

 

Emotional Intelligence means being self-motivated

Emotionally intelligent individuals understand the meaning of their goals and abilities to increase their self-motivation.

One of the main requirements of leaders is the ability to motivate their employees. But to lead by example, you must first consider your motivation. You can then work to encourage others through IE.

Several studies show that what differentiates exceptional from middle leaders is emotional self-awareness and self-control. By harnessing the “power” of IE, you will be able to increase your employees’ motivation, strengthen cooperation and increase their performance.

Accept the challenge! Be the leader your team needs and the entire organization will receive rewards!

Original Article: 5 Ways To Lead With Emotional Intelligence