Be emotionally intelligent: don't be a Fourth Industrial Revolution obsolescent
Our friends, colleagues and associates can thankfully be a sundry bunch of interesting and colourful characters with diverse backgrounds, opinions and ideas. And that's what makes the world a fascinating and engaging place. In most cases.
There are occasionally some in our social circles who speak inappropriately and with little thought, often with a well-meaning intent and rarely with animosity. However, this characteristic tends to alienate people. All because of a low Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
Many of us remain blissfully ignorant of how our improper tones and ambiguous signals are perceived.
If you know anybody exhibiting this behaviour, offering gentle guidance and support to increase his or her EQ will not only curb any continued unintentional hurt, but will also prevent a social chasm from developing as friends, colleagues and associates inevitably start to distance themselves.
Less easy to help are the humourless jokers who thrive on inopportune words and cloaked messages that bemuse and distress people for the sake of a cheap gag to impress peers, or to shift focus away from themselves.
These scurrilous clowns have an extremely low EQ — very little thought for the consequence of their words and actions.
They recklessly presume the mocking, unrefined puns and smart-ass comments about others in the group will elicit a response and reaction that makes them the centre of attention. The reward being laughter that is mistakenly perceived as approval or encouragement, yet it is usually a sign of incredulous discomfort. The joker is merely pitied.
Many of us suffer from low EQ moments, during which we misalign respectful intent with an inappropriate method of delivery. Any offense taken may be short-lived, but it's a signal that we ought to review how we consider the thoughts and feelings of others.
If the insatiable need for approval from peers can only be satisfied by humorous mockery, then mild self-deprecation is favoured by those with a high EQ. Openly ridicule of somebody else in a group situation is a lack of self-management, social awareness and relationship management skills.
Resisting the temptation to continually communicate via wisecracks takes skill and effort.
If somebody you consider a close friend, colleague or associate appears distant and evasive, ask yourself how you interact with him or her. If he or she is little more than another stooge, fodder for deprecation, then stop playing lip service to any notion of friendly, cordial, harmonious interaction with people.
The World Economic Forum lists EQ as one of the 10 skills needed to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Therefore, low EQ people who hope to survive and thrive in business during the coming years and decades ought to focus on the necessary skillset.
Events after the fact will prove there is a correlation between failure in business and a low EQ. And placing self-gratification and self-interest to the forefront of our interactions with other people is unlikely to be a rewarding approach.
COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING | COORDINATING WITH OTHERS | CRITICAL THINKING | CUSTOMER FOCUS | DYSFUNCTION | EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE | INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND DISRUPTION | JUDGEMENT AND DECISION-MAKING | NEGOTIATION AND CHANGE | PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP | PROCESS MANAGEMENT | SERVICE ORIENTATION | STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE | WORDS AND LITERACY
If you or your organisation is affected and needs any help, support or assistance in dealing with or responding to any of these topics, please contact us at Matsuda Mulville — the home of Matsuda Mulville Thinking.
We are a consultancy that seeks to think critically and solve complex problems in the pursuit of innovation, creativity, disruption and continuous improvement. Happy in the role of Devil’s Advocate, we strive to make a difference: transforming dysfunction into success; advocating, adopting and adapting to emergent behaviours; improving communication; and being antifragile through gaining from disorder.
And we would love to respond to any writing needs you have, too.
(Peter Mulville has over 23-years’ professional experience of adding value and enabling quality through a determination to facilitate desired outcomes or resolve organisational challenges. Besides a passionate love for the application of words and literacy, Peter is globally-focused and driven by change enablement, strategic planning, governance and the harmonisation of process deficiency and miscommunication. Peter is also experienced in the management of processes, projects and portfolios, as well as leading international teams and being a passionate advocate of people-first. Peter is defined by structured adaptability, ordered chaos, rigorous agility and meticulous flexibility, specifically in the areas of skills, knowledge, capability and administration.)
"Never confuse luck or advantage with skill!"
Keywords: #MatsudaMulville #MatsudaMulvilleThinking #CognitiveFlexibility #ComplexProblemSolving #CoordinatingWithOthers #Creativity #CriticalThinking #EmotionalIntelligence #JudgementandDecisionMaking #Negotiation #PeopleManagement #ServiceOrientation #FourthIndustrialRevolution
Adapt and be Kind
6yPeter Mulville I have personal experience with exhibiting low emotional intelligence. I had a mentor who determined I had distanced people at work by using tones and facial expressions (body language) that made them feel I was being condescending. This person hired a life coach for me (through work) and I worked with them very diligently for six months. It was a difficult process and really only works for those willing to open up and admit they could use some coaching. For me, it was the change I needed. I could not see this about myself. I was simply not self-aware. I have grown much in the 3 years since! I am thankful to that mentor as my trajectory from here on in is only forward!
Coach to Visionaries Creating the More Beautiful World 🌎| Transformational Artist | Spiritual Mischief Maker and Mentor
6yInteresting Peter Mulville as I think that often low emotional inteligence is a sign of developmental issues in childhood and can be seen in people who have great vision.