Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ for Emotional Quotient) is defined as the ability possessed by an individual to be cognizant, in control of, and expressive of their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. In the workplace, high emotional intelligence plays an important role in regard to both personal and professional success. Further, it is a key trait of a competent and efficient team member and leader.

Countless studies have explored the benefits of high emotional intelligence in the workplace, particularly in the growing realm of technology professions, such as IT. IT (Information Technology) professionals possess distinctive personality traits that make them effective at what they do, and at the moment, high EQ isn’t topping the list. Fortunately, that’s beginning to change. CEO’s, managers, and other leaders are putting more effort into hiring and embedding in existing employees the importance and benefits of incorporating emotional intelligence into their daily interactions at work.

For company leaders looking to improve the emotional intelligence of your IT department, here are 5 proven steps for enhancing their EQ.

5 Steps to Improving EI 

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is emotional intelligence. It manifests itself in many ways. Specifically, when speaking about the workplace, it entails taking into account that an organization is an accumulation of many individuals with many different personalities, cultures, and lived experiences. Whether you are the head of your department or simply a member of the team, understanding how to interact with your coworkers efficiently, means understanding them on an emotional level.

Self-awareness in regards to EQ entails:

• Understanding how you come off to people (verbally and nonverbally) can play an important role in how the recipient of your attention conducts themselves from that point forward. Taking their feeling into account before you speak will work in your favor to not only establish a stronger working relationship but increase productivity.
• Being emotionally observant of each member of your department works to deescalate situations and build a more unified team. Specifically, being emotionally observant involves a high level of empathy and understanding, as an individual may be dealing with something outside of the office that may require a much more sensitive approach in regards to communication.
• Understanding your own abilities and limitations work to create a higher level of productivity within your department. We all want to be superheroes and take on the world alone, but every now and again, even superheroes need a bit of help. Delegating tasks or asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of self-awareness.
• False confidence can be costly, and by costly, I mean it can pose a significantly higher risk of wasting valuable company time, energy, and money. Accurately assessing your own confidence and capabilities requires self-awareness and a subdued ego, which can be tough, but the benefits for the organization could be monumental.

Self-Regulation

The ability to control one’s emotions and impulses is a big indicator of one’s level of emotional intelligence.

Self-regulation in regards to EQ entails:

• Being conscious that in moments of high stress, frustration, and anger, lashing out or making a permanent decision on temporary feelings isn’t in yours, or the company’s best interest. During moments like this, it is important to step away from the situation to gather your thoughts, so you can assess the problem and make a decision that best serves your interest.
• Being a person with integrity is a fundamental quality that assists in establishing strong bonds. Integrity encompasses trustworthiness and honesty, which are traits that make it easier to progress past a mistake.
• Being accountable for your performance, good or bad, shows a level a maturity that promotes openness and higher self-awareness in the workplace.
• Change in the workplace, whether it be in regards to technology or staff is inevitable. Having the ability to adapt to change is required if you hope to succeed.
• Seeking and taking the advice of others on innovative ways to boost the efficiency of a particular process, can help make your life easier by saving you time and energy.
• Thinking before you react to a situation is the most advised form of self-regulation. Sometimes we tend to say things without fully processing what’s being said, which often leads to misunderstandings.
• For most people, criticism is often hard to hear and frequently ignored, as it goes against the way in which we view ourselves (abilities and performance). Realizing that the constructive criticism you are receiving from your team or higher ups in your department, is meant as a means to help you improve, can be the difference between helping you elevate to your highest potential or remaining stagnate.

Self-Motivation

Aristotle stated, “we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”. Being aware of the area’s in which you need improvement and striving to do just that, improve, will help you reach your goals (professional and personal).

Self-motivation in regard to EQ entails:

• Putting yourself in position to take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself means ensuring that you are equipped with the skill set needed to thrive when your chance arises.
• Being optimistic is an important component to thriving as it can help you focus on your goals while remaining consistent even when faced with obstacles.
• Keeping your commitments aligns with consistency, which helps you remain on track to achieving what you set out to accomplish. Keeping your commitments is a reminder to yourself and others that you care about what you are doing, you value the time of the people you are working with, and you are reliable.

Social Environment Awareness

A high level of awareness of the world around you, and an ability to interact with people in a manner appropriate to the variables at play (i.e., interest and concerns), shows the people you are engaging with and your observers that you are in touch with your environment.

Social environment awareness in regards to EQ entails:

• Being socially conscious of your environment means that you have a heightened awareness of the wants, needs, and emotions of those around you (co-workers, and customers).
• Developing this skill allows you to assess from afar or up close the talents of those around you, enabling you to help your team members fine-tune or expand their skills to become more successful in the workplace.
• Understanding the different skillsets and personalities of those around you can enable you to create a more diverse team of competent individuals that can attack projects from different angles, further increasing your probability of success.
• Being aware of your social environment allows you to observe how the office functions regarding politics and relationships. Once you’ve adequately assessed the ins and outs of the workplace you can utilize the information to your advantage to help your ascension within your department.
• Being aware of a high performing co-worker, and acknowledging their achievements shows them that their hard work isn’t going unnoticed and encourages them to continue to strive to be the best they can be.
• Offering feedback and constructive criticism to those you feel need it, serves to better the person you are interacting with and the workplace as a whole.
• When you make a mistake and you can see or you are aware that it has negatively affected someone, simply saying sorry can help remedy the situation and prevent a larger problem from building and erupting in the future.

Learning to Develop Your Social Skills

Learning tactics such as persuasion to help not only advance your career but the success of your team is important to the evolution of your department.

Social skills in regards to EQ entails:

• Becoming a clearer communicator is one of the most essential social skills a person can possess. Being able to get your message across clearly and concisely creates efficiency and less friction within a conversion, enabling those you are conversing with to better follow your instructions.
• Becoming a leader that inspires your team, will encourage them to work at a level that exceeds your expectations.
• Incorporating change adds value to not just yourself, but your team will help boost the level of success within your department.
• Developing the skill of mediation will help you efficiently deescalate disputes and develop company resolutions that work for all parties involved.
• Developing strong bonds with your team is important because it opens lines of communication that wouldn’t be possible in traditional leader/employer relationships.
• Understanding the overall mission of your company will help you create a game plan that assists your department in doing what it can to achieve company objectives.
• Being considerate of others emotions, and not employing tactics to manipulate them with your own emotions is a good way to build healthier relationships within the team. It’s also important to not let others manipulate you with their emotions, as it is a sign that they lack respect for you and your role within the department.

Selecting a trusted ITAD partner is one of the most important decisions you will make as an IT Director. As outlined above, it is critical to carefully evaluate prospective partners to ensure that they have the experience, resources, and efficiency required to properly dispose of your IT assets. Additionally, the ITAD partner you choose should be sharply focused on helping you improve your ROI on your IT assets while generating disposal solutions that are environmentally-friendly.

Learn More About What to Look for in an ITAD Partner when Disposing of Surplus IT Equipment

Zeriva welcomes the opportunity to work with your organization to map out a customized plan to properly dispose of your IT assets. Our team of responsive, certified engineers is accustomed to disposing of IT assets for Fortune 500 companies and offer a comprehensive array of IT solutions for growing companies. Helping you enjoy a high ROI on your assets while complying with industry regulations is our top priority, and we offer an impressive track record of success in the remarketing arena. We look forward to the opportunity to serve as your trusted ITAD partner!