Manage Smarter, Not Harder: How Emotional Intelligence Benefits Managers

One of the biggest challenges that managers face is getting to know their staff.

Getting to know someone often takes a significant amount of time; understanding their motivations, fears, triggers, and strengths can take months or even years, and in a professional setting where people only interact in specific ways during predetermined hours it can take even longer just to scratch the surface of someone’s personality.

These conditions can make it particularly challenging for managers to understand and effectively lead and support their staff, and can provide significant challenges for anyone who manages a team of people day-to-day.

As a result, many managers are turning to Emotional Intelligence (EQ) training to develop a better understanding of their own needs, as well as those of their staff.

Is Your Management Style Costing You?

Gallup found that unhappy workers – that is, those who are disengaged from their work and feel unmotivated to succeed – cause companies to lose between $450 and $550 billion in productivity each year in the U.S.

In fact, the Harvard Business Review conducted a study that found that bad bosses negate all other investments into employee retention and satisfaction including increased rewards, better career programs, additional benefits, and more.

While not every employee is going to be motivated 100% of the time, it falls on managers to find ways to motivate staff and keep them engaged and productive. In many cases, it’s not the lack of managerial experience that keeps managers from successfully leading their teams, it’s a lack of emotional awareness.

What Happens When Managers Lack Empathy?

Arguably, one of the biggest problems with a manager who lacks empathy and emotional intelligence is that they don’t realize that they’re part of the problem.

Managers who haven’t taken the time to understand their own biases and challenges will often unwittingly demotivate and discourage those around them by over-reacting to challenging situations thereby causing or exacerbating personnel problems.

How Can EQ Help You Manage More Effectively?

Use some of these tips to start developing your Emotional Intelligence right now, and be sure to get in touch and ask about our training and certification programs to help you be a better leader:

• Ask for feedback from your superiors and staff, and watch how other people react to how you behave day-to-day.
   
• Start working with a professional coach who can help you take a “coach approach” to your leadership style.
   
• Keep a close eye on your team and keep note of their emotions and mindset while they work. Ask yourself what you can do to help support them.
   
• Pay attention to your own triggers: what makes you feel upset? How do you react when your employees make you feel stressed or anxious?
   
• Have the courage to admit to a mistake. Successful managers can admit that they’re not perfect.

Do you want more ways to become a better leader? Ask about our next EQ certification sessions, or request a 1-on-1 session with us!