Over the last few weeks the subject of priorities and finite
time has arisen for me. This has sadly
been brought on by a number of unexpected deaths within my sphere, albeit not
too closely. Yes, I know, but this isn’t
going to be one of those morbid rants about how we should embrace life and live
for the day!
My reaction to these sudden demises was tempered with a week
long holiday to Cornwall where I was able to get perspective from disbelief,
grief and generally trying to work out what my reaction should be having not experienced
a funeral since 1997. It started me
thinking about my emotional intelligence report from 3 years ago which
indicates that I have emotional self awareness and good empathy, but that my
reality testing is potentially wanting, as is my impulse control. In this way, I have been a shoulder to cry
on, but then made a complete faux pas stating “How beautiful the lilies look on
the dresser.” Believe me, this is
improvement!
I think if I were to carry out another EQ-i today, there
would be differences and hopefully a more balanced result as I
have been worked within Zest Business Coaching for many years now and had
What these losses have given me is a little more
perspective, a little more appreciation and a little more gratitude. Combined with my holiday recharge I have come
back to life and work with a slightly different and more positive outlook. The EI distinction between work and life is a
little blurry and the question of EI a big one for me. Zest have carried out many EQ-i on a variety
of staff at differing levels of seniority.
It has been interesting for me as I process these reports and almost
never get to meet the subject of the report.
There is a long standing question of how important Emotional Intelligence
is in the workplace, but maybe this recent article will give you a glimpse as
it makes the point, “We would argue that success in business is a function of
four things: Your IQ (how smart you are), your prior experience (including your
education, work experience and training), the level of effort you put
forth and your emotional intelligence.” http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248329
The bottom line is that it is important and one takes the emotional
intelligence of our being into the workplace 5 days a week (give or take), to
work as a team, to manage, to communicate, to succeed, to nurture, to perform
and to grow a business. DO NOT
underestimate its significance. Build
your team strategically taking the best of an individual’s EI and put it to use
purposefully to bring out the best in them.
A person with low self-actualisation and independence is unlikely to
succeed if “left to it”. Supported by a
team with people who are high on the interpersonal scale, they will shine and
their potential can be realised. An EI
profile enables you to identify the characteristics and leaning that an
individual may not even acknowledge themselves and perhaps as their manager,
you may not be aware, but by being informed you have the ability to nurture. Well worth the investment at £75!
So in conclusion, I am going to learn from my recent
experience of demises, take stock emotionally and let it enhance my EI. Time is finite and there will always be
priorities, but for me, the trick is to be emotionally grounded and aware of
emotional shortcoming in order to be the best one can be.
