5 steps to control your Emotional Intelligence in the age of Gen Z
By Federico Manó — Human Resources Manager at UTAG
What defines today’s leaders? Is it their position within a company? Achieving exceptional results? Keeping teams motivated? Yes, all of that matters but in new organizations, the secret to being a great leader is what psychologist Daniel Goleman calls Emotional Intelligence.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize our own emotions and those of others, to motivate ourselves and others towards clear goals, and to manage relationships properly.
When it comes to the workplace, we all know that some of the basic principles have been shifting. This fills some with fear and uncertainty while others accept the challenge of constant change. Emotional Intelligence is the main skill that companies are currently looking for in people. So the question becomes: how can we make sure that our employees have the Emotional Intelligence they need to face this new world of change? This article seeks to dispense some advice.
We also know that Generation Z is completely different from other generations out there. They’re the influencers of tomorrow; they’re the disrupters of new markets. At the same time, there are many myths about them. While they’re best known for their knowledge of new technologies, adaptation to change, sense of responsibility, and interest in sustainability and diversity, there are some other very important aspects to keep in mind.
Take for example, independence and proactivity. Generation Z has shown some difficulties when it comes to both these areas. They often let their emotions take control of their behaviors as happens with emotionally immature people. In many cases, this can be attributed to their having had helicopter parents that paid extremely close attention to their problems growing up. These are the people that later grow up being afraid to take the first step or innovate due to their fear of failure. The truth is, they haven’t been given the chance to learn to fail nor have they learned to cope with it.
The first thing we need to understand is that Emotional Intelligence can be trained. This means that through neuro-psycho-education, anyone can learn to develop it. Daniel Goleman explains that emotional intelligence relies on 5 pillars:
1) Self-awareness
Individuals with high levels of emotional intelligence are comfortable with their own thoughts and emotions, and understand how they impact on others. Understanding and accepting the way you feel is the first step to emotional intelligence.
2) Self-regulation
It is also important to be able to control and manage your impulses and emotions. Acting rashly or without caution can lead to mistakes and can often damage relationships with our team or clients.
3) Internal Motivation
Being driven solely by money or material rewards is not a beneficial characteristic, according to Goleman. Being passionate about what you do denotes stronger emotional intelligence. This leads to sustained motivation, clear decision making and a better understating of the organization’s aims.
4) Empathy
Not only must you understand your own emotions but understanding and reacting to the emotions of others is also important. Identifying a certain mood or emotion from a colleague or client and reacting to it can go a long way in developing your relationship.
5) Social Skills
Social skills are more than just being friendly. Goleman describes them as ‘friendliness with a purpose’, meaning everyone should be treated politely and with respect while keeping in mind that healthy relationships also lead to personal and organizational benefits.
In conclusion, to manage Generation Z you must know them individually and have enough emotional intelligence to effectively motivate and engage them.
Also keep in mind that the people you lead are watching you for clues. So, lead by example. And finally, teach them that failure drives innovation. In that sense, we could even add a 6th step to the path to Emotional Intelligence called ‘learning to fail’ to build a channel for the unbridled river of emotions.
True leaders build relationships with their employees so they can later focus and handle their emotions effectively.
It’s all about emotions.
