Emotional Intelligence and Competencies at Work

Dr. G C Mohanta, BE(Mech), MSc(Engg), MBA, PhD(Mgt)

Professor Al-Qurmoshi Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad - 500005

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ) is defined as a set of competencies demonstrating the ability one has to recognize his or her behaviors, moods, and impulses and to manage them best according to the situation.

How is EQ Different from Personality?

Personality focuses on symptoms of behavior and what our behavioral tendencies are

EQ focuses on sources of behavior and our ability to exercise sound judgment

When building teams it is behavior that counts, not

intentions

but… The underlying (motivating) force is always thinking; Thinking leads to behavior

Behavior is driven by emotions (our EQ)

Where Does EQ Come From? The source of EQ is our Thinking

Three Dimensions of Thinking:

Intrinsic Thinking – One’s ability to see the uniqueness in other people, themselves, and things around them.

Extrinsic Thinking – One’s ability to see how people and things relate and compare to each other (i.e. relative or comparative thinking).

Systemic Thinking – One’s ability to think in black and white terms, and their ability to focus on their ideal view of people, the world around them, as well as themselves.

The “Thinking Condition” Effect

Condition I Thinking: Relating – Stress free among the people, with everyone feeling safe, included, and valuable – and focused on the task at hand rather than on their own needs.

Condition II Thinking: Reflecting – When we reflect on other’s input, which gives us a fresh point of view.

Thinking Conditions (Continued)Condition III Thinking: Responding –

Something happens and we respond – it’s how we go through our days and the thinking condition people use most often.

Condition IV Thinking: Reacting – The thinking condition in which people are more likely to make errors in judgment and do or say things they will regret later.

Five EQ Competencies that Correlate to Workplace Success

Social Competencies – Competencies that Determine How We Handle Relationships

Intuition & Empathy - Our awareness of others’ feelings, needs, and concerns. This competency is important in the workplace for the following reasons:

Understanding others Customer service orientation People development Leveraging diversity

Five Critical EQ Competencies (Contd.)

Political Acumen & Social Skills – Our adeptness at inducing desirable responses in others.

This competency is important in the workplace for the following reasons: Influencing Communication Leadership Change Catalyst Conflict Resolution Building bonds Collaboration and Cooperation Team capabilities

Five Critical EQ Competencies (Contd.)Personal Competencies – Competencies

that Determine How We Manage Ourselves

Self Awareness – Knowing one’s internal states, preferences, resources, and intuitions.

This competency is important in the workplace for the following reasons:

Emotional Awareness Accurate self-assessment Self-confidence

Five Critical EQ Competencies (Contd.)

Self Regulation – Managing one’s internal states, impulses, and resources.

This competency is important in the workplace for the following reasons:

Self-control Trustworthiness Conscientiousness Adaptability

Five Critical EQ Competencies (Contd.)Self Expectations – Emotional tendencies that

guide or facilitate reaching goals. This competency is important in the workplace

for the following reasons:

Achievement drive Commitment Initiative Optimism