Using Emotional Quotient (EQ) to Find the Soul of Big Business

The textbook definition of EQ (or Emotional Intelligence Quotient) is the ability, capacity, skill or a self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, of others, and of groups.

It might sound like it has nothing to do with the workplace. However, when you fully realize the concept, you will see it is an exhilarating and vibrant dimension of Organizational Behavior and communication. EQ, at its basest form, is empathy. Walking in someone else’s shoes, relating to them, and helping them work through their problems to become more productive. This empathetic process will help you to form important work relationships. Many people want to work on their EQ skills in order to improve their personal relationships. However, we employ it here in a way that can help you relate better at work and at home.

When there’s a lack of communication in the workplace, we begin to assume that everyone’s actions are meant in bad intent. We assume that everyone is out for themselves and monetary rewards, which means the workplace must be a dog eat dog place. By necessity, we sacrifice everyone else to get ahead. But the repercussions can be dire. Think about if you have an organization of 100 people, and each is going out for their best interest. The course of the company is split in 100 different ways, and mistrust is bred again and again.

In order to enact W. Edwards Deming’s 14 points of management, we must realign our minds to be more positive. We must redirect them to “assume positive intent” throughout all of our workplace communications. At Bama, we train all employees in an extensive 3 day course of EQ. Dusty Staub, CEO of Staub Leadership, and author of “The 7 Acts of Courage” and “The Heart of Leadership,” has structured our EQ training to include ways to identify with with and be understanding towards your teammates, instead of acting passive-aggressively towards them.

Some of the most important areas in EQ training are: Seek to Understand; Instead of assuming that a co-worker’s actions are intended to cast you in a bad light, seek to understand why they may be acting this way. Maybe something negative is going on in their life, or maybe they feel stressed. Try to look below the surface, even when it’s not your first instinct.

Courageous Conversations; when someone isn’t performing well, people prefer to be non-confrontational. This will cause the issue to get bottled up, and can lead to passive-aggressive behaviors. In our EQ training we teach employees to confront the problem head on in a respectful, docile way–they should be seeking to understand.

Trust; We have to listen to and value our colleagues, trust what they say and that they are doing what’s best for the organization, just as we want to be trusted of the same.

Many large companies are employing some of the same techniques, such as McDonald’s “Three Legged Stool” Philosophy, or Google’s new mission to bring mindfulness to its employees.

In order to change the way business is done, and truly find the soul of business we must employ EQ. EQ is the most comprehensive way to train employees to respect each other, and to have the same goal in mind: advancing your organization.

Looking to find a new way to do business? Find it on Paula Marshall’s Site, then visit her blog to find the best advice on Management Philosophies for your business.

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