The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, technological disruption, and robotics are driving the need for increased Emotional Intelligence (EI) skills in the future workforce. We define EI as the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions and recognize, understand, and influence the emotions of others. For leadership development – EI is one of the most critical factor.
This Emotional Intelligence or EI is an acquired skill, unlike IQ or Personality, which are kind of static for every person. If we master Emotional Intelligence skill, you will see a big change in the way you react to various situations and this will have a direct impact on your relationship with people around you (at work place or at personal front). Unfortunately, in most of the traditional Leadership Development programs – EI is not covered.
Think of any typical working day and identify the three emotions that you encounter very often. Very often, we feel frustrated for various reasons. Similarly, many people feel anxiety. Please note that both frustration and anxiety have a terrible impact on both our physical and mental health. Understanding, learning, and developing or nurturing Emotional Intelligence mostly help us to understand ourselves. It helps us to change our behavioral patterns and, finally, reduce the frustration, stress, and anxiety from our life.
It’s worth investing time towards learning and working on improving our EI.
Consider the following:
1. The World Economic Forum has ranked Emotional Intelligence as one of the top 10 skills needed for the fourth industrial revolution in 2020 and beyond.
2. The McKinsey Group has identified that between now and 2030, the need for social and emotional skills will grow at a much faster pace than the need for cognitive skills.
3. The Institute for Health and Human Potential’s research indicates that Emotional Intelligence skills now account for 85 to 90 percent of what is required for exceptional performance and leadership (www.ihhp.com/future). This percentage keeps growing as more Millennials enter the workforce.
4. A recent Harvard Business Review article, “The EI Advantage,” states: “Corporate cultures that lack EI are becoming a major liability as business environments change.”
You may choose to watch few video related with this topic: