Emotional Intelligence in HR at Workplace

Emotional intelligence in HRM is the composition of four human resource traits/characteristics identification of own emotions, the ability to manage own emotions, recognizing others’ emotions, and relationship management. These are also commonly known as the four components of emotional intelligence, as described by Daniel Goleman in his famous book on emotional intelligence in 1995.

Human Resources, human beings need to differentiate between the positive, neutral, or negative stimuli arising from the circumstances around them. There remain two choices for humans either respond to life scenarios with proper intelligence or react emotionally to life situations.

What is Emotional Intelligence in HR?

Emotional intelligence in human resource management is depicted in the below-mentioned pictorial of Emotional Intelligence's four quadrants which explain what an employee knows about self and others; and what employees do to own and others, for self-awareness & social-awareness; and Self-management and relationship-management purposes, respectively.

How does Emotional Intelligence impact the workplace?

It is important to know what may happen at the workplace; it is not as simple as it looks, but no worries! Then again it is not impossible to know the facts at the workplace!

If you are a self-reliant personality, you may take a few days to cover the emotional leaps wisely; others may take more time as per their willpower.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) does not say to ignore the reality of the happenings around; rather looking into the rooted details of the problem may result in better solutions at the workplace.

Therefore, the wise advice is to follow the reasons behind the problems

Remember only being anxious may increase the depression level, and the depression is already there due to the state of affairs. This may make the situation worse!

Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Human Resource Management

Importantly gaining emotional intelligence by human resources (HR) at the workplace causes ease for the employees to respond wisely rather smartly, and avoid reacting to the anxiety caused by the employees’ burnout states and the sensitivity of the workplace situations/job conditions.

How EQ for HR can be achieved then?

Here the question arises of how EQ for HR can be achieved then. Whenever problems arise in Organizations, watch for the root elements of the cause-and-effect relationships of the scenarios being faced, the human brain is then required to see the probable/possible alternatives to come up, with the possible solutions.

And last, follow the potential choice for a trial to convert the conditions on a betterment graph scale, whereby problems can be converted into opportunities! Wow!

Are there Emotions Behind Human Decisions? And what are the possible benefits of HR emotional intelligence?

The answer is yes, and it is as easy to understand as human beings that every decision relates to some emotions behind, therefore identifying as well as managing own and others’ emotions leads to a peaceful environment and the waves of emotional states do not hinder the sane decision making. It is important to know that emotional quotient (EQ), is the measurement of (HR-human resource) emotional intelligence which makes the following special characteristics improvement – in other words, they are called the possible benefits of HR emotional intelligence:

• Ability to recognize, understand, and manage own and others’ emotions
• Empathy and social skills
• Making people socially skilled
• Strong emotional signals understanding and control
• It matters more than IQ
• Understanding of nonverbal communication and clues
• Capability to resolve conflicts
• Openness toward received feedback
• Intrinsic motivation to pay attention to solve problems
• Betterment in mental health
• Being a good team member
• Performance improvement of HR

What does Research & Development emphasize about the Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace?

Research & Development emphasizes the Importance of Emotional Intelligence at the Workplace as it is evident that Emotional Intelligence is positively associated with and results in the following three inevitable, pivotal, and potential Human Resource and Work Relationship Attributes (HR-WRAs), as per the International Journal of Organizational Analysis (June 2020):

• HR Job Satisfaction
• HR Performance
• Caring Climate for Employees

Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Human Resource Management in the Workplace

The realm of the workplace is not just about tasks and targets; it's about the people, their feelings, and how they interact. This is where Emotional Intelligence (EQ) takes center stage.

EQ at the workplace isn't merely a buzzword; it's a crucial predictor and influencer of several key facets of HR and overall employee wellbeing:

• Resistance to HR Stress: An emotionally intelligent HR department is better equipped to navigate the often stressful waters of personnel management. They can understand, process, and mitigate stress, ensuring that both they and the employees they manage remain resilient and robust in the face of challenges.
• Achievements in HR Career: EQ is a significant booster for career progression in HR. By understanding and managing emotions, HR professionals can make informed, rational decisions, enhance their interpersonal interactions, and thus excel in their roles.
• Constant but Smoother Interaction with HR: In HR, communication is key. An HR professional endowed with emotional intelligence can ensure smoother and more effective interactions, not just within their department but across the entire organization. It’s about understanding the unsaid, gauging moods, and interacting in ways that are productive and positive.
• Development of HR Potential: EQ is not static; it can be nurtured and developed. By investing in emotional intelligence, HR departments can unlock hidden potentials, foster growth, and ensure that their teams are always at the forefront of personal and professional development.
• Creative and Constructive Conflict Resolution: Conflicts are inevitable in any organization. However, with emotional intelligence, HR can approach these conflicts in a way that is both creative and constructive. Instead of merely firefighting, they can address the root causes, ensuring that resolutions are long-lasting and beneficial for all involved.

HR Research about EQ in 2021

HR Research about EQ in 2021 discloses that the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved with new challenges for employees as well as employers worldwide, though Emotional Intelligence has been a proven tool, by the very Practical Research in Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM), for Human Resource Managers to find an HR solution to the HR problems faced amidst pandemic scenarios globally!

You might also like: Research: HR Performance and Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence at Workplace and its relationship with HR Performance