Here at Blue Sky, I’m always reinforcing how we need to be aware of the impact we have on others and how we make people feel.
We need to ensure that our clients and potential clients have a real affinity with our service and that we are delivering tangible value wherever possible. Yet, it’s not just our clients we need to consider is it?
Just as important is how we interact with each other, in the business. Our tolerance to our colleagues’ idiosyncrasies, whilst recognising their strengths and qualities, is so important if we are to create the right culture. As business owners, allowing both individuals and the business to flourish is key. A capital ‘T’ in team.
This approach is often referred to as Emotional Intelligence or to use its abbreviation E.I. Wikipedia defines E.I. as “the capability of individuals to recognise their own and other people’s emotions, to discern between different feelings and label them appropriately. To use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviour and to manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt environments or achieve one’s goal”.
E.I. has permeated into all areas of our lives but Daniel Goleman, the modern day author of Emotional Intelligence, has stated that his biggest surprise has been its impact on the world of business, particularly in the areas of leadership and employee development.
A friend of mine first introduced me to the E.I. concept, way back, around 2002, if my memory serves me right. He was blown away by the implications and successfully introduced distance learning courses on the subject to a wider audience via his company. I often spoke to others about E.I. and it’s importance but rarely was it given much credibility and kudos, almost appearing too fluffy and irrelevant in many of the male domains. Yet, slowly but surely, it has gained traction.
A friend who is an officer in the RAF, always used to chuckle when I spoke about E.I. because he hadn’t heard about it and I’m sure he thought it was something I’d made up. A few months ago, guess what? I got a text out of the blue… he’d been on a course about E.I. and said ” it was really interesting. Now I understand what you were talking about”.
Only a few days ago I was up at Yeovil Town Football Club speaking to the academy head of coaching and he stated that E.I. was at the core of what they do. Brilliant, not what you would think is it? A real resonance.
According to the University Consulting Alliance, Goleman found that 67% of all abilities associated with strong job performance were related to emotional intelligence.
So, my question to you as a business owner is… how much importance do you give to creating the right amount of E.I. in your business?
To read more click on www.talentsmart.com/aboutemotionalintelligence
Kind regards,
Gary
Gary Neild B.Sc.Hons. DipIP PFA
Managing Director
