Defining an Emotionally Intelligent Team

Social and Emotional Intelligence can be defined by the 26 competencies that it’s made up of. Likewise, a team is defined by the sum of its parts. So, if the parts aren’t shaped up the way it’s supposed to be, then it just won’t be as effective as it could be.

That is why you as a leader must steer your team to the right direction so that you can get the results that you want. And the easiest way not to lose sight of that is to ask yourself the question: “What is an emotionally intelligent team?”

By defining what an emotionally intelligent team is for you, you set the goalposts. You get to decide if your team has developed the necessary level of Emotional Intelligence to face the challenges that will come their way and become the team that you know they can be.

What is an Emotionally Intelligent Team?

You can throw around plenty of definitions of an emotionally intelligent team and most of them will fit the bill. So, here are just some of those definitions to illustrate what a socially and emotionally intelligent team would look like in practice.

A Team That is Socially Aware

Being part of a team is a social situation in of itself. Therefore, there is a need to develop both Social and Emotional Intelligence in your team members so that they can navigate these situations effectively. Your team will be able to level with each other in a way that can ease interpersonal transactions and get done what they need to get done.

Through Social and Emotional Intelligence, your team will know how the social world works, know what is expected from them, and most importantly interact more smoothly with one another.

A Team That Listens

Emotionally intelligent teams have exceptional listening skills. They tend to listen for understanding without interrupting and without judgment. Not only do they look for verbal cues, but non-verbal cues as well to approach situations in the best possible manner.

They understand that listening to others is not something that is strictly a professional courtesy. With Emotional Intelligence, your team will take a genuine interest in and will be curious about their fellow team members. They will want to know who they are, what they do, and how they think, and that in turn will create better comradery and better teamwork.

A Team That Understands

Being able to understand and respect differences in the team is important if you want it to last. Whether those differences are cultural, religious, gender, or socioeconomic, an emotionally intelligent team will be able to factor those in appropriately when communicating with each other.

They use diplomacy and tact when relating with others and understand which communication style to employ with each different individual. Doing so gives them the ability to defuse high-tension situations with ease and mend relationships.

A Team That Shares

Sharing and communicating information with others comes naturally to emotionally intelligent teams. They provide and obtain more information compared to other teams because they optimise their teamwork to the fullest using their strong interpersonal relationships.

However, information is not the only thing that can be shared within a team. Having a contagious positive attitude will quickly spread to the entire team and will put people at ease and boost morale in your organisation. In addition, your victories and shortcomings will be embodied by your team because you are now a part of a single cohesive unit moving towards a common goal. So, make sure that the team is performing at their very best.

Conclusion

From building up leaders to building up teams, Social and Emotional Intelligence has proven to be a game-changer for the top performing organisations. Defining it through what you can actually see in practice will give you a greater understanding of where your team is and where it can go moving forward.

Moreover, it is only through constant collaboration between the leader and the members of the team that Social and Emotional Intelligence can be elevated to a higher level.

Sir Isaac Newton, the culminating figure of the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century, put it best when he said:

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of the giants.”

So, how do you define an emotionally intelligent team and does your team fit that definition?

We Are Here to Help

At People Builders, we have a team of expert trainers and coaches who can help you in building trust with your team. Contact us today for a quick chat to see how we can partner with you to train and coach you and your team.

If you are interested in becoming certified to be a trainer and coach in Social and Emotional Intelligence, Applied Neuroscience, or Extended DISC, go to our People Builders Institute website.