Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership in the Healthcare Environment

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Table of Contents

How Emotional Intelligence Enhances Leadership Skills
Nurses Working in the Emergency Department
Core Themes
The Results of the Test
Conclusion
References

Introduction An overview of the current public school system in this country reveals an undeniable fact. The public school system is geared towards the acquisition of measurable skills, especially those that are related to math, engineering, language, and various branches of science. Children are trained to master the skills related to these topics. However, current research findings uncovered that mathematical abilities and technical knowledge are not enough to succeed in the real world. Education experts are saying that health care professionals should not only focus on the intelligence quotient, they also need to focus on Emotional Intelligence.

How Emotional Intelligence Enhances Leadership Skills

Daniel Goleman was credited as the first person to define the rudimentary principles of Emotional Intelligence (“EI”). Goleman asserted that AI is the individual’s capability to recognize and understand the emotional aspect of human relationships (Cassady & Eissa, 2008). When the EI concept became popular, theorists described it as the capability to monitor and manage feelings (Cassady & Eissa, 2008). It is also the ability to distinguish the impact of emotions in the life of the individual (Cassady & Eissa, 2008). Goleman pointed out that those who focused on IQ oftentimes struggle at work, however, those with modest IQ found ways to succeed in the workplace.

Goleman made the connection between EI and work performance. He said that a high EI quotient enables the individual to reap the benefits of self-control, persistence, and motivation. This framework is supported by the findings of other researchers. Mayer and Salovey pointed out that there is a relationship between emotion and cognition. They also asserted that EI assists the individual in integrating emotions into his thought process (Salovey, Brackett, & Mayer, 2007).

It was Reuven Bar-on who coined the term Emotional Quotient (“EQ”), and this concept enabled people to understand EI as a capability like reading and writing. Bar-on asserted that there is a connection between EQ and social knowledge. He pointed out that EQ enables the individual to adapt to the challenges of the social environment (Emmerling, Shanwal, & Mandal, 2008).

Nurses Working in the Emergency Department

EI enhances leadership skills because the leader understands how to read emotions and make adjustments based on the perceived emotional state of the subordinate. For example, the proponent of this paper works as a nurse in the emergency department of a busy hospital is subjected to different types and levels of stressful situations. In most cases, emotions are frayed and people are not able to function well because of the impact of the workload. As one of the nurses working with a team of health workers, EI enables the proponent of the study to empathize with co-workers’ struggles.

If the proponent of this study failed to understand the deeper implications and deeper root cause of the problem, the negative emotions displayed in the emergency department force her to respond with harsh words. If this is the case, then the workplace environment breaks down so that it is impossible to establish rapport and friendly relations with other health care workers.

The person leading a team of nurses or physicians must learn how to read non-verbal cues. If the subordinate is unhappy, the leader must figure out the root cause of the problem. An angry subordinate has no place in critical care unit of the hospital. The people serving in a fast-paced and high-stress environment must demonstrate high EQ levels in order to provide top-quality service to people in need. The proponent of this study also utilized EI principles to address problems that are simmering on the surface. Without a conscious understanding of EI, it is easy to work on automatic mode. As a result, a significant number of nurses in the emergency department work on automatic mode and ignore the tell-tale signs of problems that are discernible through non-verbal cues.

Core Themes

It is impossible to develop high EQ levels without understanding core themes about EI. It is important to look for resource materials and training tools to improve the individual’s capability to read people’s emotional state. For example, the University of California at Berkeley created a website that provides an overview on the core themes under EI, and these are listed as follows: 1) Gratitude; 2) Altruism; 3) Compassion; 4) Empathy; 5) Forgiveness; 6) Happiness; and 7) Mindfulness.

It is important to incorporate the core themes of EI into the leader’s personal development. For example, gratitude increases the individual’s happiness. Without a doubt, a happy person is more productive compared to a gloomy worker. Furthermore, those who appreciate the importance of empathy are able to resolve conflict in a more effective manner.

The Results of the Test

The website created by the University of California at Berkeley also featured a body language test. The quiz determines the individual’s ability to read people’s body language. The proponent of this study acquired a high score. The proponent of this study scored 80%, demonstrating the ability to read expressions and understand that co-workers are struggling with a problem or dealing with an issue and yet unable to express it to others. For example, one of the nurses was having a hard time appreciating a new rule about the use of the call-light button. She needed to express the anxious thoughts but she did not know how. As a result, she was merely following orders but her commitment to the task was not one hundred percent. The proponent of this study took her aside and discussed the issue. In the end, the nurse felt relieved that she finally understood the reason for the new guidelines. If this intervention was not made, the nurse continues to suffer needlessly.

Conclusion

An overview of EI principles revealed the importance of acquiring other skills that go beyond those that are acquired in an academic setting. People with high IQ oftentimes struggle with work-related performance, especially if they cannot understand the emotional state of their co-workers. EI improves leadership effectiveness because the leader understands the connection between emotions and work performance. Unmotivated workers are suffering from emotional problems that the leaders must address. However, the lack of knowledge regarding EI forces the leader to blame other factors. EI improves leadership capabilities because the leader understands that subordinates with high IQ do not guarantee solid performance in the workplace. An overview of EI principles compels the leader to delegate important tasks to people that work well with others. They will also look for workers with high EQ because they know that these leaders can motivate their subordinates and resolve conflict more effectively.

References

Cassady, J., & Eissa, A. (2008). Emotional intelligence: Perspective from educational and positive psychology. New York: Peter Lang.

Emmerling, R., Shanwal, V., & Mandal, M. (2008). Emotional intelligence: Theoretical and cultural perspectives. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Salovey, P., Brackett, M., & Mayer, J. (2007). Emotional intelligence. New York: Dude Publishing.

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