Learning About Emotional Intelligence for Improving Professional Relationships

This essay explores the concept of emotional intelligence and its role in improving professional relationships in the workplace. It discusses the importance of self-regulation, empathy, and social skills in building effective teams. The essay also highlights the impact of emotional intelligence on conflict management and decision-making. Overall, it emphasizes the significance of emotional intelligence in promoting efficiency and positive professional relationships.

HOW LEARNING ABOUT
EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE CAN HELP
IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL
RELATIONSHIP IN THE
WORKPLACE

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................4
ESSAY ............................................................................................................................................4
Emotional intelligence ................................................................................................................4
Role of emotional intelligence in improving professional relationships in workplace ..............5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

·INTRODUCTION
Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability of an individual to manage, identify,
understand and use emotions the best possible and positive way (Cottrell, 2015). For leading a
higher degree of professional expertise as well as effective communication, stress free and
healthy life, better relationships and overcoming challenges it is necessary for individuals to
manage their emotions effectively. In the professional context also good relations and teams can
build only by emphasising and developing higher level of emotional intelligence. The report will
provide a critical evaluation that how learning of this intelligence attributes can promote and
improve the professional relationships and efficiency.
·ESSAY
·Emotional intelligence
As per the view of Gardiner and Barefoot, (2019) emotional intelligence is one of the
most important parameter which influences the efficiency and performance of employees. It
refers to the ability of a person to understand, perceive and manage their own emotions and
feelings. This skill helps employees to recognise the moods and emotional changes which not
only influence self performance but also affect the others. Hence for maintaining constant
efficiency and good relations with others people must have self regulation so that they can
control their moods and sudden emotional impulses. Emotional intelligence also act as intrinsic
motivation factor which drives or encourage individual to achieve specific targets for their
personal choices instead for some rewards or external benefits.
Another important element which characterise the emotional quotient is called empathy.
In organisations it is necessary for employees especially for leaders to identify the motivation for
others so that effective team can be build. For this purpose leaders must have empathy of
knowledge of such inspiring factors which can pursue others to work within teams for
organisational goals. For having good social skills emotional quotient is essential element which
helps in managing good relations. Thus it is important for people to have higher emotional
quotient as it is not beneficial for the professional relations but also for building social network.

l壱Role of emotional intelligence in improving professional relationships in workplace
For the leaders and manager is it necessary as well as beneficial to learn the role of
emotional intelligence. This ability allows individuals to self regulate the actions and to build
confidence, focus and to eliminate the procrastination. The team leaders must have ability to
collaborate team members so that they can put efforts to achieve the organisational goals.
However effective team building is not an easy task for the leaders and it requires to completely
understanding the individual competencies and their motivation factors. To achieve these task
leaders uses their emotional intelligence so that emotional requirements of employees and team
members can be fulfilled and they can be motivated to work as team.
According to Cottrell, (2015) knowledge of emotional intelligence of team members can
assist leaders to establish and formulate the norms related to emotional awareness at every level
of communication. It promotes the true cooperation, group identity and trust and group efficacy.
When emotional intelligence or the factors influencing the emotional well being are not known
or taken into consideration then it affect the mental well-being and the overall performance of
employees. Thus for enhancing professional efficiency and team outcomes it is suggested that
each individual must also try to respect and understand the emotions of others. The emotional
stability and emphasis helps greatly to manage the organisational conflict. It has been also
observed that emotional intelligence has critical impact on physical health. The emotional
breakdown can make employees anxious, stressed and nervous. Thus they may not perform the
organisational tasks with optimum level of efficiency.
Apart from the cooperation and team coordination emotional intelligence is also valuable
assets for providing satisfactory client services. The effective management of emotions helps
employees to effectively deal with the work place related conflicts. On many occasions when
individuals are not able to manage their emotions then work stress and conflicting situations can
make them ineffective in decision making process and to handle their professional collaboration.
It can have long term negative impact on both business performance and professional growth of
employee. Within organisation it is quite common that professional relationships may experience
problems or conflicting situations. In such situations it is necessary for the employees to deal
with it in calm and wise manner.

When team members are well aware and concerned about the emotional behaviour of
other team members then they develop an understanding and emotional connection. This
professional bond helps to control and manage the sudden impulses and to take decisions which
promote mutual benefits. It effectively resolves the work place conflicts promoting quality of
work and organisational practices. Bratton, (2016) elucidated that one of the potential factors
which deteriorate or results in unproductive professional relationships is that employees are not
willing to accept the perspectives or opinion or other team members. The performance
evaluation and criticism can discourage them and they may not be willing to recognise their own
mistake. However with increasing understanding of emotional intelligence people also
concerned about the emotions and perspective of others. This makes them accept their faults in
more convenient and respectful manner. Such kind of positive attitude builds a highly effective
organisational culture and professional relation.
Despite various benefits and huge significance of emotional intelligence it is required
that this aspect must be balanced. The imbalance emotional intelligence can improve
professional relations but it can have adverse impact on overall success of organisation. The
understanding of emotional quotients of others can be helpful for the managers and leaders to
motivate them and to enhance their proficiency. However it can also be used to manipulate the
others by using emotions. Thus it is recommended that for sustainable and long term success
professional relations must be developed stronger. It is possible only when emotional quotients
are balance at workplace. It is possible only when emotional intelligence is also taken into
consideration in various organisational aspects.
According to Cross and Carbery, (2016) with the globalisation and business expansion
across the diversified regions, organisational teams are also become diverse. They consist of
team members with different background, culture and emotional needs. Within cross cultured
teams there are higher possibilities of conflicts due to complex interaction of emotions. When
team members or employees are not able to manage or express their emotions then apart from
the professional relations their work quality is also deteriorate. Hence it is necessary for the
leaders and organisation to create self awareness among employees so that they can understand
the emotional needs and motivational factors for others. Emotional quotient or intelligence affect
the way in which individuals communicate with each other and manages conflicts and

relationships with others. Emotions can also influence the quality of life and thus it is also
reflected in the behaviour and actions.
Thus for preventing any immature and ineffective decisions it is suggested that
employees must have complete awareness about the actions of their behaviour so that even if
situations create conflicts individuals are able to resolved them and work as team. Most of the
decisions taken by individuals are influenced by their emotions and emotional connectivity with
other people at work place. For making these decisions more productive and limiting the risk
factors it is required that quick emotional responses must be understood and learned. The
professional interactions and relationships can also be improved by reflecting upon the practices
which can trigger the emotional swing of individuals. A regular evaluation and monitoring of the
emotional intelligence is also helpful in identifying the situations which can trigger conflicts or
the differences.
Thompson, 2015 stated that on many situations this type of analysis is greatly helpful for
the organisations in managing critical situations. It gives authority and power to leaders to
understand the personal needs of employees and to treat them accordingly. Learning and greater
understanding of the emotional intelligence also serve as an important parameter in motivating
the employees and to maintain a sustainable professional relationship. When leaders and
managers gives equal value and respect to all team members in terms of emotional intelligence
then it make them feel that their perspective is valuable and thus they work with positive
enthusiasm. This positive sense towards professional culture and environment, team members
also encourages healthy competition and creativity. Thus for building a successful professional
relation and culture emotional quotient must be given equal priority along with other personality
traits.
·CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the essay that with better emotional intelligence people are able
to effectively communicate and understand others. It is vital for effective team work and
improved organisational performance. It has been also analysed that this learning can help
leaders to identify the needs of employees and to help them in achieving improved professional

efficiency. It can also be concluded that by developing this skill individuals become more
positive and optimistic towards diversity and acceptance. Thus it becomes easy for individuals to
accept the point of views of others and to avoid unnecessary conflicts at work place which have
adverse impact on the organisational performance as well as on individual performance.
·REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cottrell, S., 2015. Skills for success: Personal development and employability. Macmillan
International Higher Education.
Gardiner, J and Barefoot, B., 2019. Step by Step- Chapter 2 p. 17-30
Thompson, N., 2015. People skills- Chapter 18 p. 152-161.
Bratton, J., 2016. Introduction to work and organisational behaviour- Chapter 5: P. 147-152
Cross, C and Carbery, R., 2016. Organisational behaviour: an introduction – Chapter 6 p 126-
152.