Inteligencia Emocional

Management

H A R V A R D

Update
by David Stauffer

A R T I C L E

R E P R I N T

No. U9710D

Boosting Your Emotional Intelligence

Management
H A R V A R D

Update

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of us who are mindful of the fact that the chanting of “om” has not yet been sanctioned as a critical workplaceproductivity tool in our culture, several authors have written books with nutsy-boltsier, more practical tips for how to practice emotional intelligence. Manage emotions instead of suppressing them Those who would guide us to greater emotional intelligence are unanimous in proclaiming the futility—indeed, the possible harmfulness—of squelching our emotions. Instead, they say, our objective should betheir appropriate management. In his forthcoming Emotional Intelligence at Work: The Untapped Edge for Success, scheduled for publication in November, psychologist Hendrie Weisinger suggests exchanging a reaction to being put down in a meeting by the boss for what he calls “a constructive internal dialogue. Tell yourself, ‘He’s being unreasonable. I will not sink to his level. I will not allow myanger to show. I know my idea’s a good one.’...After the meeting, you would seek a solution to this problem of your boss publicly putting you down.” In such situations, Weisinger observes, you are managing the “components” of emotion—“your thoughts, physiological changes, and behaviors”—so they work on your behalf. Changing thoughts after the moment of arousal can make our feelings easier tomanage. “Constructive internal thoughts can help slow down your physiological changes and behavioral actions; a diminished arousal level can help you gain control of your thoughts and behaviors; productive behavioral responses—deep breathing, for example—can help defuse destructive automatic thoughts and facilitate return to a comfortable arousal level,” Weisinger argues. Recognize your hot buttonsToday, after a seemingly uncontrolled outburst of anger, joy, or other strong

Boosting Your Emotional Intelligence
by David Stauffer

H

AVE YOU TRAINED and developed today? Have you doubled your load with seminars and reading that stuff you full of information about everything, from aligning incentives with strategy to the future of your industry? Is your head filled with the specter of thefinancial goals you must achieve—so much so that said head has no more room for anything else?

for what we used to refer to in elementary school with the phrase “works and plays well with others.” But what is it someone is doing when they do work and play so well? What’s the behavior that expresses the skill? Modern management scientists—who are in the process of trying to pin down the...