EI SPECIAL Emotional Intelligence Is The Real Secret To Getting Promoted
Faster
Your technical skills probably won’t secure you that management role,
but these seven habits might.
There was a time not too long ago when the
person with the most technical knowledge got promoted fastest. But that’s often
no longer the case.
Once someone gets promoted, technical skills become less
necessary, and interpersonal ones become more
critical in their place. You’ve probably already heard that emotional intelligence is a top
factor in companies’ hiring decisions, but it plays
a major role in how employers choose to promote their team members, too. This
isn’t exactly news; in a 2011 Career Builder survey of more than 2,600 hiring managers and HR professionals, 71% said
they valued emotional intelligence over IQ in general, and 75% said they’re
typically more likely to promote an employee with high emotional intelligence
and a comparatively lower IQ than one where that ratio is flipped.
So when you’re gunning for your next
promotion, your main objective might be to dial up those so-called “soft skills” in order to show your boss you’ve got the emotional intelligence
it takes to excel. Here are a few skills you’ll want to make sure
your boss can give you high marks for.
1. YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS
UNDER PRESSURE
As your responsibilities increase, so will
the pressure and demands on you. That means you’ll need to stay calm, keep
your feelings in check, and avoid reacting impulsively to every crisis (or
perceived crisis) that pops up. Your boss needs to expect that you’ll handle tough
situations smoothly and calmly. Anyone who’s reporting to you will
need reassurance and support when the stress starts to increase, so if you
want to show that you’re management material, it’s smart to model that poise and composure early on.
2. YOU LISTEN IN A WAY THAT
MAKES OTHERS FEEL HEARD
Lots of workplace crises can be avoided
simply by making people feel heard and understood. That one reason why hiring managers cite listening as a critical job skill. Even if somebody’s idea or advice
isn’t acted upon, they need to feel like their contribution is valued, and you
don’t need to bend over backwards or condescend to your colleagues to do
that–you just have to listen actively to them. As a manager, your team’s
productivity depends on how motivated they feel to do their best, and that
begins with making them feel heard. It never hurts to brush up on
those listening behaviors
.
3. YOU’RE QUICK TO SHOW EMPATHY
Everyone has a life outside of work that
can affect their performance on the job. Family members and friends fall ill,
relationships end, and lots of other life events can crop up. The best
bosses aren’t those who just shepherd projects along with ruthless
efficiency–they’re ones who treat their team members as actual people.
Fortunately, it takes no technical training whatsoever to show your
coworkers a little empathy. Being sensitive to the things that affect them
in the office can make all the difference between helping somebody through a
really hard week and leaving them angry, resentful, and looking for a new
job.
4. YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
YOUR MISTAKES
Emotionally intelligent people are good at
taking their missteps in stride. That helps them learn and improve faster after a slip-up. Why? Because they’re less likely to see the
mistake as a personal failure–a potentially powerful mind-set that
employers look for in up-and-coming leaders. Instead of
fearing criticism and rebuke, you’ll want to show your boss that your bigger
fear is not taking the initiative to try something new. So try not to
wallow in failure the next time you make an error–own up to it as quickly as
you can, and take the reins in finding a solution. That’s exactly what
emotionally intelligent managers are expected to do.
5. YOU’RE ALWAYS OPEN TO
FEEDBACK
Keeping your ego in check can also help you
stay open to constructive criticism–especially the kind that less emotionally
intelligent people might find hard to take. Make sure you show your manager
that you’re always looking to improve, even in small ways. Companies are more
willing to promote employees who see feedback as a chance to grow, not a risk
to their credibility or as some kind of personal slight. Demonstrating
this is actually pretty easy; it all starts by assuming that your boss has good
intentions whenever they critique your work.
6. YOU CAN WORK THROUGH
CONFLICTS
Getting promoted means you’ll have to deal
with the inevitable conflicts among the people reporting to you. Even the
most serene workplaces occasionally have mini power struggles
and squabbles–that’s only natural. But the most effective managers aren’t fazed
by these disputes. They can approach them without become emotionally
involved themselves, look for common ground, and listen to all sides with an
eye toward the bigger picture. That isn’t always easy, but if you can show
you’re an effective mediator, you’ll likely show that you’ll also be an
effective manager.
7. YOU EARN OTHERS’ RESPECT
(FOR THE RIGHT REASONS)
This last factor is the sum of the previous
six skills. People who are able to keep their emotions under control, listen to
others, and treat them fairly and authentically earn the respect of those they
work with. They don’t intimidate, condescend, or hog the spotlight in order to
attract their colleagues’ attention. Being approachable is actually a hugely
undervalued leadership skill, but it’s one emotionally intelligent people find
natural. It’s just about seeing your own role as helping others succeed. If
your boss notices that’s the approach you’re taking to your work, they’ll be
more likely to consider you for a promotion–and they’ll have few reasons to
regret it afterward.
BY HARVEY DEUTSCHENDORF
https://www.fastcompany.com/40423640/emotional-intelligence-is-the-real-secret-to-getting-promoted-faster?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fcweekly-bottom&position=5&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=06022017
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