Emotional Intelligence Not Optional for Business Analysts

© Tom Esch 2014 President, Creating Resolution, LLC

3 Take Aways

n 3 benefits from using emotional intelligence in your work

n 3 ways to recognize/manage emotions

n 3 ways to grow your emotional intelligence

Navigating the New Normal

n  Is like fishing…moving from a lake to a stream

n  Same tools, different awareness and skills needed

n  The agile BA is a like an agile fisherman

Bass caught in lake

Walleye in river

The New Normal: Presents new opportunities for stronger feelings and for more interpersonal challenges..

Emotional Intelligence

enabling people to work together smoothly toward their common goals."

Daniel Goleman

“…managing feelings so that they are expressed appropriately and effectively,

Emotions Matter…

High Emotional Intelligence

Low Emotional Intelligence

Captain Melburn McBroom, 1978

Importance of groundwork

n  We all want quick fix it tools n  The world of feelings and relationships

is complex. n  Quick fixes do not often work. n  Background info and inner awareness

IS vital

Three Benefits of Emotional Intelligence

#1 Less stress #2 More skill in building

relationships #3 Better business results

#1 Less Stress

Way Less Stress

#2 More Skill in Building Relationships

More likely to get what you need… n  Information for eliciting high quality

requirements n  Capacity to build common ground

between the IT dept and the business side

n  Trust

CARE.

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Theodore Roosevelt

The Speed of Trust

"The ability to establish, extend, and restore trust with all stakeholders – customers, business partners, investors and coworkers – is the key leadership competency of the new, global economy."

Stephen Covey

#3 Better Business Results

Better results

n  People with high EQ deliver better results

n  Revised hiring process for salespeople

= $91,000+ than salespeople selected under the old system + lower staff turnover

What does BABOK say about emotions?

n Almost nothing (4X) n In the context of conflict

Are there costs related to

low EQ in your world?

How would you know?

Signs of low EQ

n  High attrition rates n  Boring meetings n  Negative feelings n  Conflict avoidance

Facts about EQ

n Single biggest predictor of performance in the workplace

n The strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence.

From The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book (2005)

“…managing feelings so that they are expressed appropriately and effectively, enabling people to work together smoothly toward their common goals."

Daniel Goleman

Definition of Emotional Intelligence

“Managing feelings so that they are expressed appropriately and effectively…

…enabling people to work together smoothly toward their common goals."

n Manage n Express n Enable

Sounds easy?

64% of 500,000 could not identify current emotional state

3 ways to discover & manage emotions

Discover and Manage

#1 PAY ATTENTION to Your body

n Breathing n Heartbeat n Symptoms n Study faces

Emotional states.

Five basic emotions

n  Happy n  Sad n  Angry n  Afraid n  Ashamed

The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook (2005)

Five basic emotions

n  Happy n  Sad n  Angry n  Afraid n  Ashamed

The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook (2005)

Discover and Manage

#2 PAY ATTENTION TO NEEDS the basics and the higher level ones (Maslow)

Some needs

n  Connection n  Appreciation n  Inclusion n  Respect n  Humor/play n  Harmony n  Participation n  Independence

Needs met or unmet?

Indicators of needs met

happy confident engaged curious inspired excited eager

energetic enthusiastic grateful hopeful calm clear headed relaxed trusting

Indicators of needs not met

Anxious Frustrated Angry Resentful Hesitant Jealous Depleted

Lonely Unhappy Hopeless Heavy hearted Guarded Aloof Apathetic Bored

Discover and Manage

Discover and Manage

#3. FRAME THINGS Explain to others how you feel.

(N.H)

Special Offers for You

Put your card in the basket to win a book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 Sign up on the clipboard if you think this type of material would be useful at your work

Do You Want More Emotional Intelligence?

n Do you want the benefits EQ

offers? (less stress, more skill in relationships, better biz results)

Three Ways to Grow Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Can you grow your EQ?

Yes! Unless you are Phineas Gage (1848)

How Your Brain Works

Sensations

Feelings

Rational Thinking

Brain Communication

“The more you think about what you are feeling and do something productive with that feeling—the more developed this pathway becomes.” The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook, 2005

Your brain: not much EQ

Your brain: good EQ

Your brain: fabulous EQ

Three Ways to Grow Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

1. Study EQ 2. Identify and remember

“Hot Buttons” 3. Grow the traffic on your brain-highway and DO something

1. Study EQ

Choose what suits your style: n Read a book n Talk w/friends n Text w/emoticons n Hire a professional: coach/

consultant/psychologist

1. Study EQ

n Write in a journal n Ask for feedback n Talk about emotions w/friends &

colleagues n Join a group that pays attention

to emotions—NVC, facilitator networks, etc

2. Hot Buttons

Identify Them

Remember Them

Be analytical

Hot Buttons (exercise)

3. THINK about and DO something

“THINK about…”

“….the more you think about what you are feeling and do something productive with that feeling—the more developed this pathway becomes…”

“DO something”?

n Angry—go for a run n Sad—watch a sad movie n Frustrated—change

expectations n Afraid—appreciate

someone

It is like a muscle…

Wild Idea Warning…

Consider this:

n  Evals at end of meetings--ask each person to write down or say one word which describes a thought or feeling they had, give permission to pass

n  Ask them to share the moment they

felt some stress or challenge

Your EQ will go UP. So will theirs.

Those with high EQ

n  Are able to prevent conflict n  Are willing to address challenging

situations n  Facilitate incredible meetings

Those with high EQ

n  Negotiate when there are real challenges

n  Are more likely to complete projects on time and within budget

n  Are better equipped to navigate the “New Normal”

Lau Tzu, born 604 B.C. “If you are depressed you are living

in the past. If you are anxious you are living in

the future. If you are at peace you are living in

the present.”

3 Take Aways

n 3 benefits of EQ n 3 ways to recognize/manage

emotions n 3 ways to grow your EQ

Emotional Intelligence --good for you

--good for the company.

One final story

Dr. Arnold Mindell

Thank you! Comments & Questions

For more info or to schedule an assessment: www.CreatingResolution.com