Taken from an interview with Kylee Hurrell from Threedom Coaches.
There’s no doubt that the expectations of today’s modern society can have a major impact on our lives.
Every day we’re expected to perform the best, act the best and look the best.
What will people think about us if we don’t live up to their expectations? What will happen if we don’t perform in the workplace and lose our jobs? What if we can’t afford to live the sort of life we’re destined for?
And then there are other outside influences such as the dangers posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of international conflict and the risks caused by environmental issues such as global warming.
With all this piled onto us, it’s no surprise that we regularly hear those around us complaining of ‘feeling stressed’ or wanting some ‘chill time.’
And with work being such a key driving force and motivator in all our lives, it’s not surprising that stress levels continue to soar in the workplace.
Indeed, a recent study by leading HR solutions provider CIPHR revealed the following alarming statistics:
- On average, UK women feel stressed approximately 10 days a months and men seven days a month.
- One in 14 UK adults (7%) feel stressed every day.
- One in five people in he UK (20%) feel stressed more days a month than they don’t.
There’s no doubt that this ongoing rise in stress levels is starting to impact on the UK workplace and economy – through reduced employee productivity and increased days off.
Indeed, recent research by the Centre for Mental Health reveals that stress-related illness cost employers a staggering £5 billion last year – equating to an eye-watering £1,300 for every employee in the UK economy.
So how can today’s modern business leaders help stem the tide of these alarming statistics?
As more becomes known about the causes of stress, and the need to make employee health and wellbeing a key part of any successful business strategy, more and more employers are starting to introduce new techniques.
One such technique starting to appear in workplaces across the UK is ‘emotional intelligence.’
What exactly 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.
“Quite simply, emotional intelligence is essential for business success. Just think for a moment – who’s more likely to succeed, a leader who shouts at his team when stressed or one who stays calm and assesses the situation?”
To explain emotional intelligence in more detail, it can be broken down into the following key elements:
- Self-awareness.
- Self-regulation.
- Motivation.
- Empathy.
- Social skills.
Self-awareness
Kylee explains: “Being self-aware, you always know how you feel, and how your emotions and actions can affect those around you.”
- Spending just a few minutes each day writing down your own thoughts can move you to a higher degree of self-awareness.
- Whenever you experience anger or other strong emotions, always slow down and examine why.
Self-regulation
Kylee explains: “Self-regulation is all about staying in control – you’ll rarely verbally attack others, make rushed or emotional decisions, stereotype people or compromise their values.”
- Know your values – this will help you make the right choices.
- Hold yourself accountable – you’ll quickly earn the respect of those around you.
- Practice being calm – this helps you challenge your reactions to ensure they’re fair.
Motivation
Kylee explains: “Self-motivated leaders work consistently towards their goals and have extremely high standards for the quality of their work.”
- Re-examine why you’re doing your job – make sure you keep your goal statements fresh and energising.
- Know where you stand – determine how motivated you are to lead.
- Be hopeful and find something good – motivated leaders remain optimistic whatever problems they face.
Empathy
Kylee explains: “Empathetic leaders help develop team members, give constructive feedback and listen to those who need it. You’ll really gain the respect and loyalty of colleagues if you show them you care.”
- Put yourself in someone else’s position – whilst it’s extremely easy to support your own point of view, consider others’ perspectives.
- Body language – paying attention to body language means you’ll be able to better understand how someone truly feels.
Social Skills
Kylee explains: “Leaders with excellent social skills are great communicators. Manage change well and resolve conflicts diplomatically.”
- Learn conflicts resolution – know how to handle disputes between team members, customers and suppliers.
- Improve your communication skills – assess how well you communicate.
- Learn how to praise others – earn your team’s loyalty by simply giving praise when it’s deserved.
Kylee concludes: To be an effective leader, you must have a solid understanding of how your emotions and actions affect those around you. The better you relate to, and work with, others, the more successful you’ll be.”
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/
Follow us next month when Kylee Hurrell discusses the benefits of encompassing emotional intelligence in your workplace.
