EmotionalIntelligence, WorkplaceWellbeing
Emotional intelligence: A silent engine in companies.
At ARENA Financial Tech, technology and the financial world intertwine to create innovative solutions, and part of our success lies in our people—in how we interact, collaborate, and lead with emotional intelligence.
The continuous growth of technology makes the ability to adapt and innovate essential. Therefore, emotional intelligence plays a fundamental role in uniting teams and fostering a healthy work environment.
We’ve all used and heard this word at some point, but do we really know what it means?
What is Emotional Intelligence (EI)?
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize and understand our own emotions and those of others, as well as the ability to manage them effectively.
As Daniel Goleman said, “Emotional intelligence is the ability to turn our emotions into allies rather than enemies.”
The pillars of IE
• Self-awareness: Understanding our emotions allows us to manage them during the most difficult times.
• Self-management: The ability to regulate our emotions and behaviors helps us maintain calm and clarity when making decisions and in stressful situations.
• Social awareness: Understanding the emotions of others and group dynamics improves collaboration and communication.
• Social skills: Building and maintaining relationships is key, and teamwork is essential for achieving common goals.
How can I improve my emotional intelligence at work?
We understand that many emotions can be experienced throughout the day, including during the workday. Therefore, it’s important to learn different techniques to improve each of the pillars of emotional intelligence:
Self-Awareness
• Reflect on your emotions: Take a moment to identify and understand your own emotions. What are you feeling? Why?
• Keep an emotional journal: Write down your feelings and the situations that trigger them. This will help you recognize patterns, feelings, and moods.
Self-Management
• Control your reactions: Before acting impulsively, take a deep breath and assess your emotions. How can you respond more effectively?
• Practice self-regulation: Learn to manage emotions such as stress, anger, and anxiety. Mindfulness and exercise can be helpful.
Social Awareness
• Active listening: This allows you to understand the emotions and concerns of others, as well as improve interpersonal relationships. What emotions are they expressing? How can you show empathy?
• Observe body language: This is an essential part of emotional intelligence, since more than 90% of communication between people is nonverbal. Therefore, learning to analyze your own and others’ body language is a good method for understanding emotions.
Social Skills
• Assertive Communication: This involves expressing your ideas, opinions, and feelings clearly, directly, and respectfully. It is based on mutual respect and finding a balance between your own needs and those of others.
• Constructive Conflict Resolution: Seek solutions instead of blaming and maintain healthy relationships. Analyzing the situation without judgment provides a different perspective that allows you to reach better conclusions and solutions.
ARENA’s culture encompasses these behaviors that guide our actions, actively promoting practices that help us improve emotional intelligence and openly sharing them with all employees.
A prime example was our participation in a mindfulness workshop during Health Week. This experience taught us about the fundamentals of mindfulness and provided us with practical tools to incorporate it into our daily routine, helping us to effectively manage stressful situations.
Use of Emotional Intelligence in Arena
Emotional intelligence allows us to continue growing, optimizing our communication and enriching our decision-making. It is the foundation upon which interpersonal relationships are built and strengthened, facilitating our ability to manage challenging situations.
At ARENA, EI also allows us to anticipate and respond to our clients’ needs with the necessary sensitivity and precision, ensuring an experience that exceeds expectations.
