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What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness in the Workplace?
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Michelle Bennett : Apr 18, 2023 6:00:00 AM
You see it all the time: someone is deeply knowledgeable, a strong problem solver, equipped with top-notch technical skills, and can think logically about even the most complex problems. In many ways, they’re considered the ideal employee. But then, when they have to control their reaction in the heat of the moment, show empathy, influence another person to see their perspective, or connect with people, they falter.
This is not a problem that can be indefinitely denied or ignored. Eventually, a lack of adequate emotional intelligence in the workplace will hinder the person who is lacking it, as well as those they work with day in and day out.
To highlight just how important it is in today’s workplace, below, you will find several eye-opening research findings and emotional intelligence statistics on the topic.
The Harvard Division of Continuing Education defines emotional intelligence as “A set of skills that help us recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions as well as recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others.” According to one of the most notable psychologists in the field, Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence is compromised of four categories of skills:
Professionals have been told for years that if they want to succeed at work and get ahead in their careers going forward, they will need emotional intelligence. Today that is precisely what we’re seeing. Not only is emotional intelligence a skill hiring teams actively seek out in candidates, but it’s also playing a role in who gets promotions and raises.
Emotional intelligence in leadership isn’t just a nice to have; it’s a must-have in today’s day and age. While we were already headed in that direction, COVID-19 and the subsequent shift to remote/hybrid work significantly accelerated that trend and solidified its importance going forward.
In the report “The EI Advantage,” Harvard Business Review and The Four Seasons revealed the findings of their global survey of nearly 600 leaders. Given that The Four Seasons was “built on the emotional intelligence of its employees” and attributes its “sustainable competitive advantage in a fiercely competitive industry” to it, the goal was to see if other organizations were also prioritizing emotional intelligence and, if so, what the benefits were. Here are some of those findings worth noting:
Despite the importance and potential benefits of emotional intelligence, it was found that only 42% of organizations provide specific training to help employees cultivate emotional intelligence. Moreover, Harvard Business Review warns that “organizations that sideline the development of their workforce emotional intelligence skills are more likely to experience significant consequences, including low productivity, stunted innovation, and an uninspired workforce.”
To avoid such consequences, it can be greatly beneficial to enlist the help of a certified professional coach who has the tools and experience that are needed to assist in the development of an individual or team's emotional intelligence skills.
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