What do you do if your colleagues resist developing emotional intelligence in the workplace?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others. It's a valuable skill in the workplace that can lead to better teamwork, communication, and job performance. However, not everyone may be on board with developing their EI, which can be challenging if you're trying to foster a more emotionally intelligent work environment.

1 Understanding EI

Emotional intelligence is comprised of four core skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Self-awareness involves recognizing your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. Self-management is the ability to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, and adapt to changing circumstances. Social awareness means understanding the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, picking up on emotional cues, and feeling comfortable socially. Lastly, relationship management involves the ability to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.

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2 Assess Resistance

When you notice resistance to developing EI among colleagues, it's important to assess the reasons behind it. Some individuals may not understand the value of emotional intelligence or how it applies to their role. Others might feel threatened by the idea of change or worry about the vulnerability that comes with sharing emotions. It's crucial to approach these concerns with empathy and provide clear examples of how EI can positively impact both individual and team performance.

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3 Lead by Example

One of the most effective ways to encourage others to develop emotional intelligence is to lead by example. By demonstrating the benefits of EI through your own actions, you can inspire your colleagues to follow suit. Show empathy, practice active listening, and manage your reactions in stressful situations. Your behavior can serve as a powerful model for the kind of emotional intelligence you hope to see in your workplace.

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Alice, The Conscious Life Coach

Workplace Mental Health Strategist | Master Life Coach | Corporate Trainer | Chairperson - Mental Wellness Association of Kenya (MWAK)
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Follow the principle - 'Don't tell,show us'. It much easier for people to learn and understand EI when you demonstrate it as opposed to when teaching it. This means then you have to take the lead and model the behaviour and culture that you wish to see in the workplace. It's not easy but is a powerful style of leadership and creating influence.

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4 Provide Resources

To support your colleagues in developing emotional intelligence, provide them with resources that can help them learn and grow. This might include workshops, seminars, or reading materials on EI. Make sure these resources are accessible and relevant to your team's needs, and encourage an environment where everyone feels comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences.

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5 Create a Safe Space

Creating a safe space for emotional expression is essential for fostering emotional intelligence in the workplace. Encourage open communication and create opportunities for team members to share their feelings and experiences without fear of judgment or reprisal. This can be achieved through regular team-building activities, one-on-one check-ins, or simply by maintaining an open-door policy.

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Silvia Bottini ☆ Executive and Team Coach ☆

I help executives cultivate an authentic professional Presence aligned with their core values and purpose, for optimal performance and personal fulfillment | Ashridge Accredited Coach | HOGAN certified | MSc
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Creating a safe environment where people aren't exposed to judgment is crucial. This way, they may find the courage to develop their emotional skills, including recognizing theirs and others'emotions, and receive support. Support can come in the form of coaching as well, where colleagues have the opportunity to explore the reasons of their resistance in full confidentiality.

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6 Encourage Practice

Developing emotional intelligence is an ongoing process that requires practice. Encourage your colleagues to apply EI skills in their daily interactions and provide constructive feedback when appropriate. Recognize and celebrate progress, no matter how small, to motivate continued effort and improvement. Over time, these practices can help create a more emotionally intelligent workplace culture.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your colleagues resist developing emotional intelligence in the workplace?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Understanding EI

2 Assess Resistance

3 Lead by Example

4 Provide Resources

5 Create a Safe Space

6 Encourage Practice

7 Here’s what else to consider

Life Coaching

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What do you do if your colleagues resist developing emotional intelligence in the workplace?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understanding EI

2 Assess Resistance

3 Lead by Example

4 Provide Resources

5 Create a Safe Space

6 Encourage Practice

7 Here’s what else to consider

Life Coaching

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