Lack of quantitative data and models have made it challenging to measure the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in workplace success. Behavioral experts, like the best-selling author Daniel Goleman, believe that:
“EI is as strong a predictor of job performance as is IQ.” (Goleman,1995)
What is Emotional Intelligence and why does it matter?
Emotional intelligence plays a unique and greater critical role in your remote work compared to on-site work. Before diving into how emotional intelligence can be pivotal for remote work, let’s understand what emotional intelligence actually entails. EI is “the capacity for accurate emotional reasoning, as well as the capacity to use feelings and emotional intelligence to improve thought.” Or in other words, it is the capacity to “match the vibe” of your colleagues.
EI at the Workplace
Your ability to understand and facilitate the emotions of others will determine how well you collaborate. Leaders of organizations are entrusted with their roles mostly based on their emotional intelligence. Empathizing with and facilitating the emotions of colleagues allow leaders to tap into the optimal version of their teams. If you are seeking leadership roles in your remote role, EI will determine how much other leaders trust you.
Picking up on emotional cues in person is much easier than in remote work settings. The window for absorbing emotional cues is much smaller in virtual settings. As a result, tuning into your team’s emotional frequency requires a higher emotional intelligence compared to in-person settings. To find out more about what remote-first employers are prioritizing, check out our future of work employer blog articles.
There are several mainstream remote tools, such as Slack, Zoom, and Google Meet, with which remote job seekers are expected to be familiar. Mastering these tools can help you communicate more seamlessly with your remote team members, allowing you more touch-points for EI. Developing your EQ alongside your IQ might just be the “upskill” you have been looking for to move up in your remote career.
