We discuss the importance of emotional intelligence with Julian Carle, an expert in corporate education.

An important topic in today’s business environment – Julian explains how by leading with an emotional intelligence mindset, you can help motivate employees, drive productivity – and ultimately, increase the revenue of your SME.

So… Why is emotional intelligence so important?

Emotional intelligence has become increasingly recognised as an important trait in the professional world. The idea behind it is, people who are emotionally intelligent are more self/socially aware and better at managing themselves and relationships. This generally leads to a more efficient work environment and therefore increases productivity.

In Julian’s experience, emotional intelligence leads to higher staff engagement, increased productivity and stronger revenue. It’s not just a buzzword. It actually creates a social environment in which people are more comfortable and happy to work in.

One of the main benefits of having an emotionally intelligent team is that everyday problems become much easier to manage. SMEs are faced with a number of challenges on a daily basis. If people don’t feel comfortable talking to each other or don’t understand how others are feeling, it’s going to make it a lot more difficult to overcome these challenges.

Where do you start?

Well, start with yourself. It’s about understanding yourself, as well as others. Identify any emotions you’re feeling and work out what is causing them. Being aware of these feelings makes them much easier to manage and reduces the risk of having conflicts in the workplace.

Keeping and maintaining a positive attitude is crucial in any business atmosphere. If you’re a leader in your business, you can have a massive impact on your staff. Set the standards of having an emotionally intelligent culture by applying it in the senior team and get to know your staff. What’s going on in your team? Is anyone not being his/herself today?

“People don’t leave their job, they leave their manager.” The nature of the workforce is changing and people want to feel valued more than ever before. Understanding your staff’s needs and how they’re feeling is a vital part of making them feel valued. This cultivates a positive environment that will inevitably support growth in your business.

Companies that Julian has worked on emotional intelligence with in the past, have said it has helped the business dramatically. Julian has received feedback such as, different departments working better together, as well as individual relationships developing, which has had a great impact on the social atmosphere.