Emotional Intelligence is the unique ability that certain individuals possess to understand and empathize with others. The most effective leaders and event organizers possess a high level of emotional intelligence. This is how to use this intuitive ability.
Emotional Intelligence is the awareness, comprehension, management, and even manipulation of one's own emotions and the emotions of others.
Edward Thorndike, a psychologist, initially proposed Emotional Intelligence in 1920. He felt a substantial correlation existed between intellect and the capacity to “act sensibly in social relationships.” In the 1990s, psychologists Jack Mayer and Peter Salovey built on this hypothesis and developed the term “emotional intelligence.”
Over the years, self-help groups, writers, and our own society have diluted the basic meaning of emotional intelligence, redefining it as just charm and social skills. Yet, it goes far deeper than that.
Why is emotional intelligence significant?
As a #eventprof, expanding your knowledge in this field may help you achieve greater success. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize and control your own emotions and the emotions of others, as well as to channel your emotions to increase your productivity. When you can effectively regulate and comprehend your emotions, you may handle personal and professional circumstances and relationships with more ease.
Do You Own an Exceptional Level of Emotional Intelligence?
If you have a high degree of emotional intelligence, you are able to properly regulate your emotions, keeping yourself and your team calm in difficult times and even inspiring when appropriate. While this “talent” comes effortlessly to many outstanding leaders, it is debatable whether it is innate or can be acquired via practice. Nonetheless, the following characteristics can help you comprehend the notion of emotional intelligence.
1. Recognizing and Managing Your Own Feelings
As we learnt at an early age, it is essential to maintain emotional control. As event professionals, we are continuously exposed to difficult circumstances and often confront change. Your emotional intelligence is significantly correlated with your ability to adapt to various changes and circumstances. After you are able to manage your emotions, you may begin to determine their root causes. Controlling an emotion, whether it be fear, happiness, nervousness, worry, irritation, aggravation, concern, or even joy, is frequently important for success.
For instance, if a customer perceives your fear, they may not believe you are up to their task. If your excitement or happiness about anything else in your life is preventing you from meeting deadlines, you may need to temporarily shut it out in order to complete your tasks. After you are able to comprehend and examine the cause of a certain emotion, you may decide the most effective means of controlling or altering it. This may be quite crucial for event professionals, since we are constantly stepping beyond our comfort zones and encountering new, exciting (and occasionally terrifying) scenarios.
2. Concentrating Your Feelings
If you cannot regulate your emotions, you will certainly find yourself in several stressful and undesirable circumstances. After precisely identifying your emotions, you may begin to channel them.
If you decide to take a sleep because you believe the overpowering sensation you are experiencing is due to fatigue, you may wind up adding to your stress by waking up to a longer to-do list. Instead of misinterpreting your anxiety as hunger and having a snack, you should take a little pause if you are feeling anxious. By precisely understanding your emotions, you will be able to make better judgments on how to manage them. If you feel overburdened, you should subcontract some work. A brief sleep or stroll may be the greatest remedy for fatigue.
If you are unfocused and can't seem to “get in the groove,” determine why you are distracted rather than spending the whole day fighting it. Whether it is because you are drowsy, uninspired, thrilled, or even afraid, find out the reason and work on correcting that problem. If you are able to recognize and act on your emotions, you may discover that you can concentrate even more, enabling you to create even more extraordinary occurrences!
3. Recognizing and Managing the Emotions of Others
This has nothing to do with brainwashing or influencing others! This notion focuses on empathy and the ability to comprehend how others are responding to you in order to select the best course of action. It is the ability to accurately assess your team's responses to ensure that they match your expectations.
Everyone perceives the world differently. Obviously, the objective is to have everyone on the same page, but if your team or customer reacts in a manner that you did not anticipate, it is essential that you precisely analyze why. Everyone is driven in their own unique manner. By understanding how your team and coworkers feel, you can provide a variety of solutions to keep everyone happy and engaged.
Exceptional event organizers really use this knowledge while creating spectacular events. By knowing what attendees and delegates want from an event, #eventprofs may begin to proactively design meaningful experiences.
4. In response to Intelligence
Planners with a high level of emotional intelligence can accurately assess how a meeting or event is developing and adjust appropriately. By correctly diagnosing a client's lack of enthusiasm for your concept, you are able to respond promptly and discover other methods to inspire them. If you are collaborating with a coworker on a project and you see that one of you is becoming upset, you may alter your techniques before the frustration gets overpowering. Planners with a high level of emotional intelligence can assess event participants and make any required adjustments on the spot.
It is crucial to have the ability to discern the general sentiment of the group. By recognizing subtle shifts in attitude and mood, you may successfully manage the group to maintain their motivation and enthusiasm. Planners with a high level of emotional intelligence are compassionate enough to comprehend how their coworkers or guests are feeling and are able to address any issues swiftly before they develop.
Monitoring your team's and your own emotional state is essential for long-term performance, despite the fact that it may seem stupid to do so. Many leaders do not comprehend how to create a pleasant and healthy workplace, despite the fact that it is a topic that is often discussed. It goes beyond providing food, entertainment, and paid outings. Although a healthy work-life balance is essential, it ultimately comes down to the underlying sentiments and emotions that each employee has towards the everyday components of the job, and how leaders respond to those feelings. Are individuals overloaded? Underwhelmed? Happy? Excited? Motivated? Bored? Content?
In Conclusion
Event organizers with a high level of emotional intelligence are aware of, able to manage, and even harness their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. People that are able to comprehend and use this have a precise understanding of the ambiance and climate of their team, coworkers, and events. If you are able to properly empathize with others, you will be better able to read others and comprehend their wants and worries. You may also assess their strengths and limitations more accurately, develop stronger connections, communicate and bargain more successfully.
