It Takes a Village
If you’ve read the previous parts in the series, it’s clear that high levels of Emotional Intelligence are integral to one’s success. It provides a person with coping strategies when they find themselves in a tough spot. This installment will hone in on the importance of a group’s Emotional Quotient (EQ) scores and the steps that can be taken for effective teamwork.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of every successful team and regardless of whether a group works harmoniously with great communication and cohesion, or finds itself with conflicting opinions and strategies that can affect the balance of the group, the EQ-i 2.0 assessment can be used when looking for deeper insights into a group’s strengths as well as areas where the group can be more effective.
And this is exactly what Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OGE) did. OGE is a prime example of a company that understood the significance of group dynamics to optimize performance. To understand the discrepancy between employees and senior management, employees were divided into five groups and assessed: Executives, Directors, Managers, Supervisors, and Employees. This gave everyone an opportunity to be part of the final group result.
The findings for this group were very beneficial in understanding company dynamics and shed light on certain areas of improvement. The overall EI scores, although not a cause for concern, showed some interesting things to the OGE group. When self- assessing, employees fell within the average to high range with Executives rating themselves higher than Employees in EI. The top results of the group when self-rated and rated by their peers, were the ability to problem solve, control impulses, and achieve professional fulfillment. The OGE group results were beneficial in a corporate setting because those who possess high problem-solving skills tend to tackle problems head-on without getting distracted by their emotions. This is a crucial skill correlated with leadership traits and transformational leadership behaviors. On the other hand, Emotional Expression and Empathy were lower scores for this group, which may suggest that the group does not take the time to understand each other and the focus should be to be mindful of issues that their peers may be sensitive towards.
Why does this matter in a group? Because the truth is, seldom is there a realization that there are areas of weaknesses unless the group discusses together. Everyone may perform their best on an individual level but may be unaware of what’s needed for the group’s overall success. The reason we’re talking about these scores is to show you how important insights into a group’s capabilities can be. A group that may not necessarily be sensitive towards each other could benefit from an action plan that will allow them to be more cognizant of their peers. The higher scores can be leveraged to address the lower scores in the group as a whole. EQ assessments such as these hone in on key areas and provide a true picture of a group’s dynamics.
To learn more about how you can help your team benefit from our findings, visit info.mhs.com/groupreport. Stay tuned for the next installment of the expert series that will step outside the realm of your workplace.
To read more about our Workplace Report, visit here.
Now that we’ve talked a great deal about a person’s path to workplace and leadership success, the next installment of the expert series will show you how important it is for individuals to work together as part of a team to truly succeed.
About MHS:
MHS aligns extensive scientific research and powerful data with innovative technologies to create, market, and sell leading assessments that help inform critical decisions in the areas of mental health, education, talent development, and public safety. Trusted to help users accurately assess, evaluate, and improve performance in over 75 countries, MHS assessments help people around the world reach their full potential.
Founded in 1983, MHS is a growing company, powered by an exceptional team of passionate, innovative, and driven professionals dedicated to researching, programming, designing, and promoting high-quality assessments and solutions that make a difference.
Find out more here >>> MHS Inc <<<
The Expert Series is brought to you by choice Magazine as part of our ongoing efforts to bring opportunities for learning and growth to the coaching community. Delivered in four parts every two weeks, each series covers useful topics for business development and coaching insights, serving the needs of leaders in all areas and walks of life. Archived copies of the previous series can be found here.
