How important is emotional intelligence and savvy in the corporate world?

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   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   How important is emotional intelligence and savvy in the corporate world?
   
   

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   Tusitala Tomposted 9 years ago

   First of all I suspect that the ability to make decision without emotion is an impossibility.  Every thought has with it a seed of emotion.  However, as it has been said by someone much wiser than me, some thoughts are like words written on water, others like sand upon a beach with an incoming tide, and others have so much emotion that they are 'carved in rock.'   It is these last which stay and influence our responses to any ideas and thoughts put to us.   In other words, we're all conditioned.
   
   Now we might be conditioned to be a quick decision maker who, once the decision is made, goes ahead without any recrimminations as to whether or not the decision and the action which follows is really was the right one.  There is quite a lot of ego in this.   "I am right; I come from experience and know what I'm talking about."
   
   Then there are the procrastinators and vacillators.   They might have quite deep emotional intelligence (sensitivity to their own feelings and those of others) but are unable to make a decision quickly because they know that there will be some winners and some losers and they don't wish to hurt anyone.
   
   Between the two lie the majority of us.   In the corporate world of today, and of the past, I suspect the quick decision makers who are able to take the more abstract view:  "Okay, so 1,000 of our staff will be made redundant, but with the new technology the company will thrive and in three years we'll have recuited another 2,000 people."
   
   Emotional intelligence?    I'm not sure.   What you call good business practice...probably yes.  The shareholders would love this sort of guy a CEO.    Is emotional intelligence important and savvy (why do you put the two together?) important in the corporate world.   Of course it is.  But do we get enough of it?   We need to, if we are to survive on Planet Earth into the next few hundred years.

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      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer as always!

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   tsmogposted 9 years ago

   Hello gmwilliams. I think it is very important today within the larger corporate structures and with small business too. I feel although not entirely sure the element of family is being re-introduced at all levels of business - manufacturing, administration, delivery, sales, and etc. I am not sure but think emotional intelligence is first formed at the family level of both culture and social structures. Yes, it may evolve or be modified after departing family for the corporate structure of life bearing in mind that governments themselves with their citizenry are a corporate structure.
   
   Daniel Goleman's work offers both insight and perspective as its usage grows in both small business and corporate structure. Jane Bluestein's work with emotional safe school shares the theme of emotional intelligence at various levels - administration, teaching, and of course student.

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      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Dear Tsmog, glad to see you again.You are correct,emotional intelligence is so important for success in the corporate world.Technical knowledge without emotional expertise is really a barrier,believe it or not. People skills/rapport are important!

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      tsmogposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree and many do not accept the premise from usually lack of understanding. Oddly from the time we attempted introducing it there was a preponderance of resistance, yet silent screams of wanting it with discussions of personnel conflicts.

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   grand old ladyposted 9 years ago

   I read a book which defines emotional intelligence as maturity and the ability to cope with situations even when things get hard. The book noted that the children who do well in school are not those with the highest IQ but with a high EQ. These children do well i corporate settings too, and are likely to get ahead.
   
   I worked hard on building my child's emotional intelligence. She's not perfect but she is doing very well. Academically she always got high grades and now that she is working she is affiliated with a good firm and she has her goals set. I think emotional intelligence involves having self esteem, a belief in yourself and the ability to have a keen sense of judgment. All these, I believe are important in any area of life, including the corporate world.

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      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Your answers are always so eloquent, Grand Lady.  I appreciate your responses always.

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