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Tops Tips on Improving and Using Your Emotional Intelligence

Are you the type of person who can sense when things are not right in your team or are you the last person to know? Are you aware of how situations affect people differently? This ability is known as Emotional Intelligence or EI.  The good thing is that it is possible to improve your E-IQ - so we thought we would bring you some Top Tips to do just that.

Although there is quite a bit of confusion out there about what EI actually is - it is not that complicated really. In its simplest sense EI is the ability to assess the emotions of yourself and others. What you then do with that ability is the clever bit.

It is also important to know that EI is not related to your intelligence in general and that different jobs require different levels of EI. However, a good understanding of what it is and how it can be used can help you day-to-day, both personally and professionally. To read the Top Tips, please click here.

Self development

When you start to look into EI you will naturally become more aware of your own reactions to certain situations and resulting behaviours. Start by noting down your feelings throughout your day. Patterns might emerge and you may be able to pin-point catalysts that you can then address. You could also map the behaviours of your staff and start to notice catalysts that effect their behaviour and mood.

Think about your vision, values and those of the company

Most organisations have a mission statement and/or a set of values to which they adhere. Are your values or the values of your staff aligned with those of the company? If one leader within an organisation displays behaviour that does not represent company's values or vision it can lead to cynicism throughout the business. Think about why your values are different and challenge behaviour conflicts with the goals of the business.

Establish better relations

Building personal relationships with your team does not mean you have to share every detail of your lives, rather that you learn about their motivations, aspirations, family and friends and they learn about yours. Building these relationships is important to establish a connection with your staff and help you to better understand their individual motivations.

Real-time coaching

Hone your EI skills by becoming integrated within your team. This will make you more aware of when dynamics change and events happen. You can then practice real-time coaching rather than leaving it until one-to-ones. Practice this yourself too, be aware of when your mood changes and challenge your own feelings towards the situation and make sure you take time to appreciate the good things you achieve.

One-to-ones

Having regular one-to-ones with your staff will enable you to make those personal connections and build on relationships. Avoid spending all of the time discussing targets and reports, rather make it about them, how they are feeling generally and about individual projects. Most importantly do not forget to praise your colleagues in the way in which they are most comfortable receiving it.

To find out more about CragRats' coaching services please call us on 08444 18 0400.

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