EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN BUSINESS
BY: KELLY FISCHER
Today, many people are talking about Emotional Intelligence, and maybe as a business owner you are asking yourself:
What exactly is Emotional Intelligence?
How can I use that in my business?
So, that is exactly why I am here writing this article to help you to understand what is this and how to use it as an entrepreneur or business owner.
Maybe now you are asking, “And who are you?”
I am Kelly Fischer, a Master Coach specializing in Business Administration with 15 years of experience in business as an entrepreneur and business owner. I have researched many systems of excellence in business and leadership principles. I seek the best experience for the companies and clients I serve. My experience comes from many years of hiring and developing people lacking Emotional Intelligence, and I paid the price; that’s why it is my mission to bring this knowledge to every entrepreneur and business owner, no matter the size of the company.
LET’S LEARN ABOUT EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN BUSINESS!
Emotional Intelligence is the capacity to connect with yourself and develop your best version, and the capacity to connect and help others to develop their best version, as well. According to Daniel Goleman, author and researcher, who coined the term “Emotional Intelligence,” says in his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ,” that Emotional Intelligence has two important pillars:
1. Personal Emotional Competence: How I relate with MYSELF.
Example: Boldness
Self-Confidence
Resilience
Optimism
Flexibility
Persistence, etc.
2. Social Emotional Competence: How I relate with OTHERS.
Example: Leadership
Service
Teamwork
Focus on Solution
Conflict Resolution, etc.
More than 2,000 years ago, a wise Prophet who divides the age before Him and after Him, says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, the second is this ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31, NIV) Here He is talking about how to live an abundant life and described the Pillars of Emotional Intelligence: connect with yourself in all areas, with others, and--in the first place--connect with your faith, and then you are able to bring out the best of you and this connection will show you how to bring the best from others. Today, many studies show that when a person connects with their faith by prayer, meditation or mindfulness, the person is able to think clearly and make better and wise decisions. Dr. Caroline Leaf in her book, “Switch on your Brain,” chapter 4 page 72 shows us studies from scientists like Ellen Langer and Mihnea Moldoveanu on “The Construct of Mindfulness” that state that “Research dating back to the 1970s shows that capturing our thoughts in a discipline way rather than letting them chaotically run rampant can bring about impressive changes in how we feel and think. This change is evidenced in cognitive, emotional functioning as well as the neural level. My research shows that controlled focused thinking leads to impressive improvement in cognitive functioning and emotional balance.”
THE 10-90 RULE
Great companies choose their collaborators not only by analyzing the resume and measuring the intelligence and capacity to do the job (IQ); they are also choosing people with a great level of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), the capacity to manage the emotions and bring the best from themselves and others even in moments of pressure and crises.
An entrepreneur, business owner or a collaborator who is persistent and resilient acquires these positions because they have the ability to keep walking even in adversity. Persistence is a competence directly linked with success.
Today, a business owner that knows how to manage emotions follows a simple concept called the 10-90 Rule. The 10-90 Rule teaches us to manage our emotions showing us the way we react to events is much more influential then the events themselves. Below a better demonstration:
10% is what happens to you without your control.
90% is what you do with that, how you react to that event.
When we control our reaction to events beyond our control, we are using our Emotional Intelligence, and then we are able to change our thoughts and, in consequence, our communication.
MEASURING EQ
Maybe you are asking yourself, “How can I measure the level of EQ in me and my collaborators?
HR departments are developing the ability to measure emotional intelligence in partnership with business coaches, using coaching tools to measure the Emotional Quotient of the candidates for new positions.
In the first phase, when a company is opening a position, they can use a tool called “Architecture of Position” which defines the characteristics of IQ and EQ for a particular position. During interviews, the company can give an assessment behavioral profile test to help identify the ideal behavioral profile that matches with requirements for the position.
With individuals already working in the company, HR can use the assessment to develop a tool called the “DNA of the Organization” to see if the team is in the best position and maybe reallocate some people according to their profile and EQ.
With leaders and executives, this could be used a tool called Multidirectional Emotional Intelligence to measure the EQ of the leadership of the Company.
EQ APPLICATION
Maybe you are wondering: “Okay Kelly, and now what to do with all of this information?”
As a CEO and business owner, the results of these assessments are important. They will enable you to take justifiable actions that will bring out the best from you and your team. While you may need to adjust the Strategic Plan for the company, relocate people, promote individual and group meetings, give more responsibilities, hire new people - or even let people go that may be better fits elsewhere - it will all come together to better support your company’s Vision, Mission and Values.
The main thing is that Emotional Intelligence in Business needs to start with you, the business owner, entrepreneur, CEO; you need to l bring out the best version of yourself, to achieve the High Performance and then you will influence your team to be their best version.
About Kelly Fischer
I’m Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, but I have adopted Lakeland since 2019 as my city and I am proud to say I am not only “Carioca” but I am “Lakelander” as well.
I love challenges and learning new things that’s why I am constantly developing and challenging myself, so writing articles for Emerge Lakeland Business Owners is very exciting for me!
I am a Business Coach with 3 years of experience helping other Business Owners to achieve their goals, but in addition to that I have over seventeen years of experience running my own Architecture Company specialized in architecture focused on multi-family properties and real estate investment that gave me experience in business management, strategy and marketing, that helped me to help others colleagues and Business Owners.
I have a BS in Architecture and a pair of masters degrees – in Management of Natural Resources and in Business Administration. In addition, I am a Specialist in International Properties (CIPS) and a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Today I led my own company Royal Fischer Business Solutions here in Lakeland, as CEO and Master Business Coach, and I am able to help many Business owners in the US, Brazil and more.
You can follow me and my company on Instagram @kellyelficher or @royal.fischer. My email is royalfischerconsulting@gmail.com.