Building Effective Teams

The power of emotional intelligence in groups

We often depend on our team at work - leveraging different skills, knowledge and diverse thinking styles helps us to complete tasks, collaborate on projects and increase organisational success.

But how do we ensure that teams are reaching their full potential at work?

Emotional intelligence is a critical component to achieving this. Teams who understand the impact of their emotions on themselves and others, and how this affects their decision making and ability to cope with challenges, are teams that truly excel beyond the average-functioning group.

Emotionally intelligent teams can not only analyse and regulate their emotions in a more effective way to benefit the group as a whole, but also put just as much effort into building high quality relationships with their fellow colleagues as they do to solve the task at hand.

So how do we begin to build emotionally intelligent teams?

Here are 3 key areas to get you started:

1. Interpersonal Relationships

This involves developing and maintaining mutually satisfying relationships that are characterised through trust and compassion. Teams who foster work relationships see more harmonious connections among group members and remain at ease in social situations.

2. Empathy

This involves recognizing, understanding and appreciating how other people feel. Empathy is vital for emotionally intelligent teams and when achieved, enhances consideration for others and psychological safety among team members at work.

3. Social Responsibility

This involves the willingness to contribute to the group, and generally, to the welfare of others. Remaining cooperative and dependable within a team will enhance support and group cohesion within the team and the wider organisation as a whole.

So, if you want to start building more emotionally intelligent teams, take some time today to reflect on these 3 attributes and how they might be implemented within your work.

For more information on how they might be measured, visit our website and assess your team today: EQ-i 2.0 & EQ 360 Emotional Intelligence | Psysoft.