Emotional Intelligence (EI) I is the ability to perceive, reason with, understand and manage emotions. By psychologist and researcher Dr Jane Upton.
Studies show it’s the foundation for a myriad of critical skills, as well as the most significant predictor of performance in the workplace and the strongest driver of leadership and personal excellence. This incontrovertible evidence has startled even hardened critics.
The studies prove that, in today’s climate of economic uncertainty, companies led by those who can improvise, adapt and overcome changes as they occur – EI-trained people are certain to succeed. I have seen at first-hand how today more small and medium-sized enterprises recognise the inherent value of EI and take steps to assist their HR practitioners, managers and employees in ways of learning, developing and enhancing EI skills. One such company is Mechatronic Solutions, a cutting-edge Robotics company based in the West Midlands that has grown over 50 percent year-on-year for the past three years.
Given such rapid expansion, Mechatronic recognised something needed to be done to help employees cope with the heightened pressures of day-in, day-out demands. Managing Director Richard Evans settled upon Emotional Intelligence Workshops, facilitated by Jane. He explains: ‘’Clear thinking and dealing with stress is the essence of running successful large technical projects simultaneously. An objective of EI is to help shape clear minds and pathways to increase effectiveness. Jane’s fresh approach, I’m sure, will be adopted by many companies who want to realise this potential.”
People with high emotional intelligence often perform better in the workplace than those with low EI abilities but high IQs, qualifications or degrees. Gaining EI abilities people become better listeners, more empathetic and increase their social skills. They skilfully manage behaviour and make business decisions that achieve positive results. Big organisations know this, train for it, use it and profit from it, and that goes for SMEs too.
