If you become more aware and learn emotional intelligence, then you are already streets ahead of other managers.
You will help your team to grow and become confident in their abilities, become more productive, and valuable to the team and your company. Be constructive with your team—anyone can be negative and critical. That’s easy, but to overcome the challenge at work and bond the team, that requires emotional intelligence.
Encourage team members to give each other feedback, work collaboratively, and help each other. Some people will always want to do their own thing; teach them either to join in this venture or self-regulate.
Don’t use business speak. For example, “We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience caused” is emotionally weak, detached business speak and turns most customers off. This is not taking ownership of the problem or acknowledging your mistakes.
When people feel aggrieved, they can become vengeful and angry. Treat the aggrieved person as a human; treat them with trust, honor, and empathy.
Try a test for one week: go a week without business speak and avoid meaningless phrases like “thinking outside of the box.” Don’t try to impress your team with phrases. Managers in high-tech businesses often try to outdo each other with new buzzwords.
Before we get on to useful ways to lead your teams, remember this: if you could improve the efficiency of your team by 1% every four months, your department would be 33% more efficient in a year. This would get you noticed.
Here are some techniques using emotional intelligence to motivate and draw out your team:
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What do you need from me to make this project a success? Once your team has accepted that they have everything they need, they have at that point taken accountability for the project and, in effect, taken ownership of it.
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I have complete trust in you, my team. But I will not desert you. Confidence and belief are good pointers to success.
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Do you have the capacity to do this now? If not, what do you need? Give me the five most important things you need now. Allow people to agree to taking control of the project. It also shows that you as a leader are aware of the team’s needs.
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I value your contribution. Everyone should feel valued; this builds confidence and esteem in the team.
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What do you think? Ask for and show you value input from the team. Ask them questions outside their sphere of responsibility.
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How could we make this better? Show you are open to ideas from anyone, no matter how junior.
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What have you learned from this that we can do next time?
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Sorry, this is my fault. If you as a leader take accountability for your mistakes, your team will also feel able to own their mistakes and improve.
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You have done a good job. Show appreciation; what gets recognized gets repeated!
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Thank you. Two of the most powerful words. Managers who don’t thank their staff make them feel taken for granted. Saying thank you shows respect and can reap great rewards.
How to gain perspectives on leadership:
- Does not require a position or role.
- Is about interpersonal relations.
- Is an art and a science.
- It can be learned.
- Emotional Intelligence focuses on three areas:
- Awareness of self.
- Awareness of others.
- Awareness of context.
Become aware of problems and adjust your style.
These are just some of the techniques to improve your team, show that you are a leader, and demonstrate to your company that you are fit for senior leadership.
Using the Japanese business principle of Kaizen—baby steps—you can progress forward.
To start the process, email me at reddon250@gmail.com, and let’s start you on your way to great success.