Research shows that, for better or for worse, emotions influence employees in many ways. How committed they are to their work, their decision-making skills, how they work with others, and how they influence those around them are just a few. You can imagine the effects this has on a business’s bottom line. Training Emotional Intelligence is an intangible advantage that is vital to all businesses; those who aren’t taking advantage of it are missing a huge opportunity to improve their financials.
What’s usually the highest line item regarding expenses? Payroll. So, what if the thing that you are spending the most money on is not working? You’re paying employees who could be performing better, be happier, make better decisions, and collaborate more effectively if you were to implement EI training. Focusing on EI will not only correct some poor behavior but also lift up those who already have a high level of EI.
Here are some statistics that represent how understanding EI has benefited the bottom line for companies and organizations:
- Leaders at one of the largest US not-for-profit health systems experienced a:
- 93% improvement in their ability to handle conflict effectively.
- 57% improvement in their ability to deal effectively with change.
- 54% improvement in their ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
- Senior leaders at a leading US research university experienced a:
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- 35% improvement in their ability to keep emotional outbursts from hindering their performance.
- Leaders from the finance industry experienced a:
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- 30% improvement in the quality of their decision-making.
(Source TalentSmart)
So, how can your business improve Emotional Intelligence? It starts with you, the business owner and leader. Here are 3 basic tips to get started:
- Be the example – what you do matters more than what you say. If you ask your team to be on time, you need to be on time. If you condemn drama, then you cannot be any part of drama. Be the employee you want your team members to be.
- Communication is key – my mom always said it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. The tone and delivery of any message is key to its success. Try leaving the emotion out of your approach and stick to the facts.
- Support others – the most important part of any business is the people. Spend time encouraging those around you; take time to get to know your team and pitch in when they need help. If there is an issue, try to look at things from their perspective first.
Chris Case is the founder of Chris Case Solutions and a consultant at ASBTDC University of Arkansas. She has spent the last 25 years consulting, facilitating, and coaching individuals and organizations with an emphasis on emotional intelligence, conflict, leadership, communication, individual improvement, and team development. Her entrepreneurial spirit and expertise are highly valued by Fortune 100 companies, non-profit organizations, and universities that continue to rely on Case for her unique perspective.
This article is part three of a three-part series about emotional intelligence. Read part one and part two.