Boosting Interpersonal Skills with Emotional Intelligence Training and Coaching

There are two common misconceptions about the nature of intelligence. Firstly, it’s not all about having a logical mind, being good at maths or having a flair for languages. Secondly, it’s not a quality with which you must be born. Intelligence is also a term used to describe how effectively people handle relationships with one another, and, like algebra or French verbs, it can be learned. Emotional intelligence training and coaching have been shown to improve one’s interpersonal skills significantly.

Often, exceptionally clever people appear aloof or unfriendly and may be branded as believing themselves to be superior. However, it is equally likely that they lack the social skills to form and maintain close relationships. Unfortunately, such personality traits do little to foster the cooperative culture necessary for effective teamwork and business success.

Emotional intelligence (IE) is typically characterised by self-awareness, empathy, perceptiveness and good communication skills. They are able to regulate their emotions and remain motivated while in pursuit of their goals. In short, they possess all the qualities of a productive team member. We will now explore how specialised training can help cultivate these qualities.

About Emotional Intelligence Training and Coaching

The most common sign that professional intervention might be needed is recurring conflict in the workplace. Differences of opinion, work ethic or attitude frequently lead to arguments and counterproductive behaviour. However, the troublemakers are not always who they appear to be, nor are their reactions always unjustified.

Preliminary psychometric tests such as EQ1 2.0 can identify the employees who will most benefit from emotional intelligence training and coaching. For those identified as having a low emotional quotient (EQ), training and coaching will typically address the following areas:

• Self-awareness: To know others, we must first understand ourselves. Trainers and coaches can help by encouraging candidates to consider how their actions affect others and developing their willingness to listen to and learn from both positive and negative feedback. Self-aware individuals are inherently more empathetic.

• Listening skills: Too often, people jump to false conclusions because they have not fully heard or have misunderstood what others say. Practical IE training or coaching courses will incorporate exercises and role-play to optimise the participants’ active listening

• Communication: Sometimes, we may misunderstand a request or instruction and react inappropriately, not because we aren’t paying attention but because it is unclear. Poor communication skills frequently give rise to confusion, inappropriate behaviour and even conflict between employees. Optimising communication skills is a crucial objective of emotional intelligence training and coaching.

• Open-mindedness: Just because the way we do something appears to work does not mean it’s the best way. Emotionally intelligent people are open-minded and willing to embrace new ideas and behaviours. They are the innovators who can transform a team’s performance and achieve undreamed-of goals. Accordingly, training includes exercises to encourage a more open-minded approach.

Emotional Intelligence Training and Coaching in Gauteng

Orgro is a Johannesburg-based company with a team of people-focussed psychologists, psychometrists and problem solvers. The team’s combined skill sets make Orgro a leading source of training and coaching in all aspects of emotional intelligence. Contact us today to arrange an assessment, and let’s work together to transform your workforce into a unified, goal-oriented super team.