First, it would be fair to get everyone on the same page about Emotional Intelligence (EI), which explains why it’s considered a positive managerial attribute.

The Nutshell of Emotional Intelligence

A quick search of the definition brings us to The American Heritage Dictionary, which defines EI as “[t]he ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups.”

In my words, it’s your ability to control the situation by gauging it correctly. In turn, you will also find that someone who has mastered their own EI or is even aware of what it is will have a better grip on situations at work overall.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

Where there’s a good, there’s bound to be a bad. Much like Frank Sinatra’s Love and Marriage notes, you can’t have one without the other.

Positive Aspects of EI at Work

• Your communication with work peers and others will vastly improve. Where some can give an occasional nod or “yep” throughout the day with no real thought to the receiver, someone utilizing EI with these colleagues can better understand their emotional needs and respond appropriately. This takes patience, too; not everyone can take the time to do this.
• Through self-regulation and empathy, you’ll be able to better manage those (hopefully occasional, as opposed to often) workplace conflicts and stressful situations through self-regulation and empathy.
• As a leader, having and using EI can and will enhance one’s leadership abilities by making one socially aware and enabling one to motivate teams effectively.
• In the grand scheme, we will also find increased motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction among emotionally intelligent employees. Just imagine what it would be like if their boss was, too. 🤯
• Perhaps the most beneficial workplace positivity is stronger cohesion and trust, as emotionally intelligent employees build positive connections.

Potential Negative Aspects of EI at Work

I’m intentionally using “potential” here as the goal of using EI is not to deceive anyone but to assist their creative inertia in the positive direction. “But,” some can abuse the power provided by EI. For instance;

• Nobody likes to talk about it (much like Bruno), but those versed in emotional intelligence may/can/have used their skills to manipulate others for personal gain or advancement.
• In stressful situations, those with high EI may experience more depressive symptoms, which is often a manifestation or result of an adrenaline drop.
• Emotionally Intelligent people with antisocial traits like Machiavellianism may use EI to further unethical behavior. I’ve seen it happen.
• Overconfidence in one’s emotional skills could lead to ignoring objective data or rational decision-making.

I can attest that there are more people out there who’ve opted to use their EI powers for good. However, I know I’ve worked with at least five people in my nearly 30 years of work who could be labeled as someone who was talking the talk for their own gain.

Thus, while EI generally has a status quo of positive impacts in the workplace, it’s essential to be aware that highly emotionally intelligent individuals may misuse their skills for self-serving purposes or manipulation in some cases.

Perhaps the only way around this conundrum is to be a mediocrity EI type. 🤔