There’s no doubt as to the impact of mental health absenteeism on the UK economy.
Indeed, a recent report by wellbeing and performance experts GoodShape reveals how poor mental health was the leading cause of British workers taking off work for illness in 2021 – costing employers an estimated £43 billion.
This accounts for 19% of all working time lost in the UK – more than confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The alarming report also highlights that the cost of sick leave to employers rose by 31% from before the COVID-19 pandemic – not accounting for the cost of hiring and training replacement staff.
It’s not surprising therefore that business leaders are considering what steps they can take to reverse this trend and restore productivity and efficiency to the workplace.
One trend which is becoming more popular is ‘emotional intelligence.’
Kylee Hurrell, Director of leading business coaching agency The Threedom Coaches, explains: “Emotional intelligence means you understand, and manage, not only your own emotions but also those of everyone around you. People with a high degree of emotional intelligence recognise their feelings and emotions and, importantly, how these can affect others.
Introducing ‘emotional intelligence’ into the workplace can start at the interview stage. As awareness of it grows, today’s modern and open-minded business leaders still consider candidates’ knowledge, skills and experience, but also look for signs of ‘emotional intelligence.’ Do candidates demonstrate self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social skills?
Fair enough candidates may be highly-qualified in all areas, but if they can’t get on with colleagues, managers and clients then they clearly won’t be a good fit for the organisation.
So, how can business leaders and their organisations benefit from the qualities of ‘emotional intelligence?’
Team-Work
Kylee explains: “Employees can work better on a team when they have higher levels of ‘emotional intelligence.’ They communicate better, share ideas, are open to others’ ideas, trust their colleagues and are more respectful and thoughtful. This is an ideal situation for any employer.”
Improved Office Environment
Kylee explains: “Emotional intelligence boosts morale. When you have staff who get along and respect each other, the company culture is bound to be much stronger. Suddenly the workplace atmosphere changes – with staff enjoying what they’re doing and, equally importantly, who they’re doing it with.”
Change management
Kylee explains: “It’s extremely important for an organisation to move forward if it’s to stay ahead of the game in today’s competitive business environment.
“Whilst it’s a human trait to struggle with change, employees with high ‘emotional intelligence’ adjust easily, embrace the change and grow alongside the company.”
Enhanced Self-Awareness
Kylee explains: “Employees with a high ‘emotional intelligence’ learn from constructive criticism, whilst at the same time being aware of what they can do. These are incredibly valuable tools.”
Self-Control
Kylee explains: “All employees experience tough, difficult and challenging times in the workplace. ‘Emotional intelligence’ helps employees understand and remain calm. They demonstrate restraint and only reveal their emotions when appropriate.”
Compassion
Kylee explains: “One of the greatest benefits of ‘emotional intelligence’ is showing compassion for others. This improves morale and enhances the overall reputation of the company.”
Time Management
Kylee explains: “If you hire candidates with ‘emotional intelligence,’ you’ll never have to micromanage your employees. Instead, you’ll be confident that projects will be completed on budget and on time. Just think of the benefits this will bring!”
Increased Motivation
Kylee explains: “Emotionally Intelligent individuals are optimistic and always naturally work towards a goal – whether personal, professional or both. They have a growth mindset and persevere no matter what obstacles they face.”
Leadership Capabilities
Kylee explains: “Leadership makes a huge difference in productivity and profitability. People working for leaders with high emotional intelligence are motivated to do their very best, whilst leaders with these qualities can make a huge impact on the company culture.”
Professional Relationships
Kylee explains: “One of the benefits of emotional intelligence is understanding others – an extremely helpful skill in business. “You can identify what others are really thinking and feeling rather than just the words they’re saying. This enhanced communication will help you build stronger relationships with colleagues, managers and clients.”
Gaining the competitive edge
Kylee explains: “By introducing ‘emotional intelligence’ into your organisation you’ll create a workforce that works well together and feels valued and motivated – giving you a beneficial advantage over your less insightful competitors”
Kylee concludes: “Quite simply, emotional intelligence is essential for business success.
“Just think for a moment – which is more likely to succeed, an organisation with a demotivated, uninspired workforce and high levels of staff absenteeism; or one where morale is at a high and colleagues work in a friendly, productive and understanding environment.”
The Threedom Coaches programme is refreshingly different because it uses emotional intelligence, NLP, the experience of those who have worked in the corporate world and practical tools to create a unique team culture. Its sole aim is to build and maintain an environment that employees will thrive in, with consistency, high ethics and trust at the centre of the programme. For further information visit https://www.thethreedomcoaches.com/
