Today’s workplace has shifted from merely looking at your academic qualifications to how you manage your emotions at work. This ability to process your emotions and react sensibly is what is called emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence is becoming a needed skill at work. Below is how to display emotional intelligence in the workplace:
1. Responding positively to constructive criticism
Constructive criticism calls out your weaknesses or tries to improve what you do. An emotionally intelligent worker does not take criticism personally as many people do. Even when you don’t feel good about it, listen to what is said and try to improve on what you are asked.
2. Being flexible
Change is constant and nobody really likes the adjustments that comes but an emotionally intelligent worker needs to show professionalism by adapting these changes nonetheless. This means trying to make the best out of every situation, even if it is not. Being flexible can make your supervisors can trust you more as you display a great ability to adapt fast to changing conditions.
3. Taking responsibility
You will not always be right, nor will you always be wrong. Therefore, when you make a mistake, take responsibility rather than being defensive or shifting it to another person. This is a reflection of EQ as it means that you have the self-awareness to accept your failing so that you don’t repeat it again.
4. Support others
Learn to offer a supporting shoulder to your co-workers, especially those in your department or similar level of work. Whether it be helping them complete a project, or helping them cope with emotional distress. You create an emotional connection between the two of you and displays your emotional intelligence.
5. Develop a high threshold
At the workplace you would come across people that clash with you values, developing a high threshold would make you accommodate people’s excesses and show professionalism in the face of disputes and differences.