Author: Training Industry Articles

AN OLD JOKE GOES, “When it comes to a
breakfast of bacon and eggs, the chicken is
engaged; but the pig is involved!” Beneath
this witticism lies a deeper truth: when
we need the very best from our people –
when we need them to be ‘all in’ in terms
of their commitment — it’s not enough for
them to contribute from a distance: we need to provide an
opportunity for them to be involved and take ownership for
the outcome.

Today’s work environment is inundated with change and the potential for change. In times like this, employees experience anxiety at higher-than-normal levels. That anxiety can lead to emotions like frustration, distrust, and even anger. Behavior follows emotions and can be manifested in many ways such as becoming pessimistic, only giving half an effort, and no longer believing in oneself. Fortunately, organizations can guard against the negative effects of such a volatile marketplace and arm their employees with the psychological tools necessary to remain focused and goal-oriented and ultimately successful.

It has been said that the differences among the people are what make this country great. In business circles, it is leadership that brings out greatness. Emotional intelligence has proven an essential characteristic for bridging the gaps that exist in the belief systems, work ethics, and behavioral approaches taken by the diverse workforces found in American businesses today. Emotional intelligence centers on self-awareness and the ability to read and influence the emotions of others so that the end-goal remains the focus of the team, regardless of challenge. In an effort to see how emotional intelligence impacts leadership, let’s use recent political data to examine the new employee landscape.

Brain scientists have determined that the brain has four functional quadrants that play different roles in our personality. While we are meant to use all four quadrants and develop communication between these functions, we have found through our work with leaders over the last four decades that most leaders are only using a quarter to a half of their brain’s potential. Imagine the positive impact on your organizational results if your leaders were accessing all four quadrants of the brain.

Efficiency is intelligent laziness. It’s a combination of intelligence and laziness to work in a productive way. Harvesting your energy and creating an efficient work ethic starts with understanding where to place your effort. Essentially, the goal is to do more with less effort and succeed at both work and in your personal life.