You might be curious about what emotional intelligence involves and what it has to do with your career. Emotional intelligence (EI) involves being aware of and in control of one’s own emotions, as well as being able to empathize with and understand the emotions of others. It plays a critical role in career success, as it affects how we communicate, collaborate, and lead in the workplace. The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 Future of Jobs report says that emotional intelligence is one of the 10 most in-demand skills and that it will remain there through at least 2025. In this blog post, we will explore the role of emotional intelligence in career success and provide tips on how to develop it in the workplace and on your resume.
Developing your Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
- Practice active listening: Listen to your colleagues with an open mind and without judgment.
- Show empathy: Try to understand your colleagues’ emotions and perspectives, even if you don’t agree with them.
- Communicate effectively: Effective communication in the workplace involves being clear, respectful, and adaptable. It also requires active listening and providing constructive feedback to colleagues.
- Resolve conflicts effectively: When conflicts arise, try to resolve them in a way that is respectful and fair to all parties involved.
Showcasing emotional intelligence skills on your resume
- Highlight your communication skills: Effective communication is a key aspect of emotional intelligence. Mention your ability to communicate clearly, actively listen, and empathize with others.
- Showcase your teamwork skills: Emotional intelligence involves being able to work well with others and collaborate effectively. Highlight your experience working in teams, resolving conflicts, and building relationships.
- Demonstrate your problem-solving skills: Emotional intelligence involves the ability to identify problems and find solutions. Mention specific instances where you used creative problem-solving skills to overcome challenges.
- Mention your leadership skills: Emotional intelligence is often associated with strong leadership skills. Highlight instances where you demonstrated leadership qualities such as empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to motivate and inspire others.
- Highlight your ability to manage stress: Emotional intelligence involves being able to manage stress and maintain a positive attitude in challenging situations. Mention specific instances where you remained calm under pressure or helped others manage stress.
Developing emotional intelligence skills is crucial for achieving success in your career by influencing our ability to communicate, collaborate, lead, and adapt in the workplace. By honing emotional intelligence skills, individuals can boost their chances of career success.
Would you like to further develop your emotional intelligence skills? Take a course or workshop! If you have a Victoria Public Library card you can access Linkedin Learning online courses and videos. WorkLink also offers a free Emotional Intelligence Workshop for our clients! If you need additional help with your job search, contact us to learn more about our free employment services and resources: 250.478.9525 or info@worklink.bc.ca