Emotional Intelligence: Catalyst for Success

What is Emotional Intelligence and why it is important for tech people.

You've probably heard of emotional intelligence, or EQ. It's this tech-unfriendly attribute that many have been talking about. In this article, we dive into what exactly it is and why it matters.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Hard skills are super important in technology. That has been the emphasis in the industry for decades, and it has only been in the last couple of years that there has been a realisation that the tech industry is also about people. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you can't connect with people, you're missing the big picture.

The best way to connect with people is through emotions. EQ summarizes the skills needed to understand and manage your own emotions, recognise and respond to others' emotions, and use your emotions to achieve your goals. In essence, it's the ability to be emotionally intelligent.

In tech teams, where collaboration and problem-solving are key, EQ can be the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that hits a brick wall.

EQ Building Blocks

Emotional intelligence is made up of four essential components:

Self-awareness: Understanding your own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
Self-regulation: Managing your emotions effectively, controlling impulses, and adapting to change.
Social awareness: Recognizing and understanding the emotions of others, and building empathy.
Relationship management: Building and maintaining positive relationships, managing conflict, and inspiring others.

I bet you couldn't help but evaluate your own EQ as you were reading about the different aspects. Did you notice yourself assigning yourself a grade for each skill?

Don't be discouraged if you're not a master of all EQ dimensions. It's perfectly normal to excel in some aspects of EQ while struggling with others. EQ is a complex skill that develops over time. You might be a master at empathy but struggle with self-awareness, or vice versa. The important thing is to be mindful of your emotions and to strive for greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.

Why is EQ Crucial for Tech Teams?

Enhanced Collaboration: EQ fosters understanding, empathy, and effective communication, making teamwork more productive.
Improved Conflict Resolution:Team members with high EQ can navigate disagreements calmly and constructively.
Boosted Morale:A positive team culture, nurtured by emotional intelligence, leads to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover.
Better Decision-Making: When emotions are managed effectively, teams can make more rational and informed choices.

How to Foster Emotional Intelligence in Your Team

Lead by example: Dare to show and acknowledge emotions openly. Demonstrate empathy, active listening and open communication. Normalise it and set it as the new default for the whole team.
Recognise and support: Recognise team members who demonstrate emotional intelligence in their work. This can be as simple as delaying decisions until everyone has calmed down. Someone taking a break when they are upset about something in their personal life. Following their irritation and asking questions when discussing new features.
Take EQ training: there are various workshops and resources to help develop emotional intelligence skills. I also offer one.

Summary

We've explored what EQ is, its building blocks and how it can be fostered in a team. We agreed that we can create a more productive and enjoyable working environment by understanding and managing our emotions, empathising with others and building strong relationships.

The question that remains: if EQ is so important for tech teams, why doesn't it get the same attention as technical skills? Maybe it's time to rethink our approach to team development and prioritise emotional intelligence alongside coding and problem solving?

I challenge you to have this conversation at your next team meeting!

Categories: : skills