How to Find New Perspectives Through Emotional Intelligence
“I’m good at the technical parts of my role and have valuable information to share... so why does it seem like no one wants to work with me?!” If you’re asking yourself a question like this, it might be a sign that you’re in need of a fresh perspective.
This was the topic of a recent Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast with guest Karine Leblanc. Karine is a bestselling author and international public speaker who uses her engineering background to help technical professionals bridge the bridge between technical brilliance and human connection.
In this great episode, she shared some of her favorite, actionable tips for harnessing the power of emotional intelligence, improving organizational outcomes, and finding new perspectives.
Finding New Perspectives, Tip #1: Are You Ready for Feedback?
If you’re starting to feel stuck or wondering why you don’t have the relationships or outcomes you want at your organization, ask yourself two questions:
- Am I ready to hear feedback on how I can improve?
- Have I made it clear to my team that I’m ready to hear their feedback?
If you’re not willing to listen to feedback—or if your team doesn’t know you’re ready to listen—it can create a sense of disconnect. If you want to improve yourself through feedback and dialogue, be ready to take the initiative and start productive conversations.
Finding New Perspective, Tip #2: Learn the Signals
Much like a car, we all have “signals” that show when we’re in a need of a little extra maintenance... or when we’re nearing a total breakdown! By practicing self-awareness and emotional intelligence, you can learn your own signals and triggers. This will allow you to recognize when you need to shift or improve your behavior, and will help you take the steps toward stronger outcomes.
Through emotional intelligence, you can also learn to recognize the behavior and emotions of others, which makes it easier to find the best way to communicate with your team and navigate challenging situations.
Finding New Perspective, Tip #3: Find the Courage to Be Vulnerable
Emotional intelligence isn’t about being happy all the time. Instead, it’s about recognizing and expressing your emotions. To have better relationships with your team, have the courage to be vulnerable. For example, if you come to work feeling exhausted or stressed-out due to a sick child or other issue at home, let you team know. Ask them to give you some space and patience, and be clear with your emotions and boundaries. Through this, you can strengthen relationships and keep up productive communications, even when you’re not at your emotional best.
When you’re vulnerable with others, it will also increase the chances of others being vulnerable with you. Through this, you can encourage a healthier dynamic throughout your entire organization.
Learn More on the Podcast
To hear more about emotional intelligence from Karine Leblanc, check out her episode of the Mindfulness Manufacturing podcast here.