What about other benefits for employees? There are a number of work-related benefits to developing your own EQ:
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PEOPLE WITH HIGH EQ ARE BETTER AT MOTIVATING THEMSELVES Because they are able ‘selfregulate’, they have higher levels of motivation, lower rates of procrastination, higher selfconfidence and ability to focus on attaining longer-term goals.
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EQ CAN HELP WITH MENTAL WELLBEING EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE GO FURTHER IN THEIR CAREERS Not only are people with high EQ better at managing themselves in getting along with others, they also stand out when it comes to promotions and stretch opportunities.
2 Can EQ be learned?
“An emotionallyintelligent leader will be able to keep the team cohesive through tough times and control their own impulses in the event of a conflict, by viewing the situation from all perspectives and by seeking a mutuallybeneficial solution.”
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We can improve our EQ with training and practice. By paying attention and changing small things in the way we behave can make us more emotionally intelligent. We can, for instance, improve our self-awareness by paying attention to how we’re feeling at any given moment throughout the day. Notice how what you’re feeling impact on how you respond to situations and people. Reflect on how that impacts on your decisions and interactions with others. We can also become better at selfregulation by paying attention to how we communicate with others – do we tend to be agitated by others’ views, become impatient when they talk or become annoyed? Think of ways you can deal with these negative feelings, recognising them as weaknesses and
People with higher EQ tend to be happier and more positive; they’re better at acknowledging other view points which helps prevent and resolve conflict, reducing the potential of stress-related ill-health.
actively trying to replace them with positive perspectives. Asking yourself how you would react in a similar situation often makes it easier to see the other’s point of view. We can practice listening – actually hearing what people are saying and feeling, not just waiting for our turn to speak. Try listening attentively, with interest and curiosity and without interruption. Ask questions to seek more clarity and to show you understand. There are many other ways in which we can practice becoming more emotionally – intelligent, including attending training on the subject, reading books about it and practicing new small habits each day. This, in turn, will make us a more fulfilled person, a more motivated employee, a more capable leader and build a betterperforming organisation. Who knew?
THE EUROPEAN WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING AWARDS >> MAY 2019 THE EUROPEAN WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING AWARDS >> MAY 2019
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