What do you do if your community organizing professional lacks emotional intelligence?

Facing a challenge with a community organizing professional who seems to lack emotional intelligence can be a delicate situation. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and to recognize and influence the emotions of others. In community organizing, high EQ is crucial for building trust, resolving conflicts, and fostering collaboration. If you're noticing signs of low EQ—such as poor empathy, difficulty in handling feedback, or a lack of self-awareness—it's important to address these issues constructively.

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1 Assess EQ

To address the issue of low emotional intelligence (EQ) in your community organizer, begin by assessing their EQ levels. Observe their interactions with others, paying close attention to their empathy, self-regulation, and social skills. Are they able to read the room, or do they often misinterpret social cues? Consider their response to stressful situations; do they remain calm or become easily agitated? Understanding the specific areas where they struggle will guide you in providing targeted support and resources to help them improve their EQ.

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Maria Vianey Valdez-Cardenas -Posts are my own

Founder/CEO United Hearts of Arizona/Corazones Unidos de Arizona
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Understanding and managing their emotions, resulting in increased stress and lower job satisfaction. Secondly, leaders may struggle to communicate effectively with employees, leading to a breakdown in trust and collaboration.

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2 Open Dialogue

Once you've identified areas for improvement, initiate an open dialogue with the community organizer. Approach the conversation with sensitivity and a constructive mindset. Emphasize the value of emotional intelligence in community work and express your commitment to support their growth. Listen to their perspective and experiences, which can provide insight into why they may struggle with EQ. This conversation should be a two-way street, where feedback is shared respectfully and a plan for development is collaboratively established.

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Cindy Jeffrey, MA, PMP

LinkedIn Top Program Management Voice | Project Management Principles and Practices
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Working with a community organizer lacking emotional intelligence? Start with an open dialogue. Bring empathy, stressing the importance of EQ in community work. Listen to their perspective, understand their challenges. Together, collaboratively establish a growth plan, fostering a culture of empathy and effectiveness. How do you empower community organizers to develop emotional intelligence? Share your strategies below! ✨

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3 Set Goals

Setting clear, achievable goals is a pivotal step in helping your community organizer enhance their emotional intelligence. Work together to identify specific behaviors they can practice, such as active listening or stress management techniques. These goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting these parameters, you create a structured path for improvement that can be regularly reviewed and adjusted as necessary.

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4 Provide Resources

To support the community organizer in reaching their EQ goals, provide them with resources such as training workshops, books on emotional intelligence, or access to a mentor or coach who specializes in EQ development. Encourage them to engage in self-reflection practices like journaling or mindfulness exercises. These resources not only offer practical strategies for enhancing EQ but also demonstrate your investment in their personal development, which can be motivating.

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5 Monitor Progress

Monitoring progress is essential to ensure that the community organizer is making strides in improving their emotional intelligence. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss their experiences and challenges with the EQ development plan. Celebrate successes, no matter how small, to reinforce positive changes. Adjust the plan as needed based on their progress and any new insights that emerge. This ongoing process will help maintain momentum and show that you are invested in their continuous growth.

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6 Encourage Teamwork

Encouraging teamwork within your community organization can provide practical opportunities for the community organizer to apply and refine their emotional intelligence skills. Promote an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing feedback and where collaboration is valued. Group projects or team-building activities can be particularly beneficial as they allow the organizer to practice empathy, conflict resolution, and effective communication in real-time.

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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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TARUN JAGGA

Lifelong learner and educator who is enthusiastic about fostering students' intellectual growth in a variety of contexts! 📚Mental Ability Trainer & Teacher📚
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The other thing is to "Consider Reassignment" If the lack of emotional intelligence is severely impacting their effectiveness as a community organizer, consider reassigning them to a different role within the organization where their skills may be better suited.

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What do you do if your community organizing professional lacks emotional intelligence?

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3

4

5

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1 Assess EQ

2 Open Dialogue

3 Set Goals

4 Provide Resources

5 Monitor Progress

6 Encourage Teamwork

7 Here’s what else to consider

Community Organizing

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What do you do if your community organizing professional lacks emotional intelligence?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess EQ

2 Open Dialogue

3 Set Goals

4 Provide Resources

5 Monitor Progress

6 Encourage Teamwork

7 Here’s what else to consider

Community Organizing

Rate this article

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