Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence or Intellectual Intelligence: Which is More Important in the Workplace?

Among all the good qualities that effective leaders bring to the workplace, research has proven that our emotional intelligence is more reliable than our IQ in predicting overall success (EI). EI is described as the ability to perceive and effectively manage our own and others’ personal emotions.

What is the Importance of Emotional Intelligence?

A strong proclivity for emotional intelligence, according to research published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, improves one’s ability to make sound decisions, build and sustain collaborative relationships, deal effectively with stress, and cope to a greater degree with constant change. To wit, it enables an individual not only to perform well in the workplace, but also in accomplishing various other goals and objectives in his or her life.

What are the Benefits of Emotional Intelligence for Managers?

EI is also important for workplace conflict resolution, which entails being able to guide others through uncomfortable circumstances, politely bringing issues to the surface, and establishing solutions that everyone can agree on. Leaders who take the time to comprehend other points of view attempt to find a middle ground in conflicts. You can try to make others feel heard by paying attention to how others respond to one another, which will make them more open to compromise.

What is the Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace?

Emotional intelligence in the workplace begins with each individual from the inside out.. It entails understanding different parts of your feelings and emotions, as well as devoting time to developing self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The online Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) degree from Ottawa University provides you with the tools to assess and analyse your emotional intelligence levels. You’ll also learn ways for increasing your emotional intelligence at various phases of your career.

The 5 Elements of EI by Goleman

So, how does emotional intelligence play a role in workplace leadership? Emotional intelligence contains five critical parts, according to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist and author of the breakthrough book “Emotional Intelligence.” When controlled, these elements enable leaders achieve a greater level of emotional intelligence.

Self-Awareness

Emotional intelligence includes the ability to detect and understand one’s own emotions. Being aware of the impact of your behaviours, moods, and emotions on others goes beyond simply acknowledging your emotions. You must be able to monitor your own emotions, recognise different emotional reactions, and accurately name each feeling in order to become self-aware. Self-conscious people are also aware of the connections between their feelings and their actions.

Self-Regulation

The ability to control and manage your emotions, which isn’t to mean that you’re putting your emotions on hold and disguising your genuine feelings. It merely entails waiting for the appropriate moment and location to express them. It’s all about expressing your emotions in a healthy way when it comes to self-regulation. Self-regulators are more adaptable and versatile in their approach to change. They’re also skilled at defusing stressful or challenging situations and managing conflict.

Motivation

In emotional intelligence, intrinsic motivation is also important. People who are emotionally intelligent are motivated by factors other than monetary gain, recognition, or acclaim. Instead, they are driven by a desire to meet their own personal demands and objectives.

Empathy
Empathy – or the ability to comprehend how others are experiencing – is an essential component of emotional intelligence. However, it entails more than merely being able to perceive others’ emotional states. It also includes how you respond to others based on the information you’ve gathered. How do you react when you notice someone is unhappy, depressed, or disheartened? You may show them more care and concern, or you could make an attempt to cheer them up.

Social Skills
Another key part of emotional intelligence is the ability to interact well with people. True emotional knowledge entails more than just thinking about your own and others’ feelings. You must also be able to apply this knowledge in your everyday interactions and conversations. Managers gain from being able to form relationships and connections with their staff in professional situations. Workers gain from being able to form strong bonds with their supervisors and coworkers. Active listening, vocal communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, leadership, and persuasiveness are all important social skills.

Given all of these considerations, it’s easy to see why emotional intelligence is important in the workplace. If this research-based theory piques your interest as a business professional, a graduate degree in leadership might be perfect for you. Ottawa University’s online Master of Arts in Leadership programme is the best, fastest, and most economical in Kansas City. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has granted this competitive programme accreditation, indicating the excellent quality of business education provided. Ottawa University and its online programmes have been ranked near the top of the best colleges in Kansas City by U.S. News & World Report.

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Gender Equality

Gender inequality is visible in girls’ and boys’ homes and communities on a daily basis — in textbooks, the media, and among the adults who care for them.

Parents may shoulder disproportionate home responsibilities, with females shouldering the burden of caregiving and chores. Women make up the bulk of low-skilled and underpaid community health workers who work with children, with few opportunities for advancement.

In addition, many females receive less help in school than boys in order to pursue the studies they choose. This occurs for a number of reasons: Girls’ safety, hygiene, and sanitation needs may be overlooked, preventing them from attending class on a regular basis. Gender disparities in learning and skill development are also a result of discriminatory teaching styles and educational resources. As a result, approximately one out of every four girls between the ages of 15 and 19 is unemployed or in school or training, compared to one out of every ten boys.

Gender inequalities in early childhood, however, are minor. Girls have a better rate of survival at birth, are more likely to be on track developmentally, and are equally as likely to attend preschool. In every country where data is available, girls exceed boys in reading among those who reach secondary school.

Adolescence, on the other hand, can provide substantial challenges for females’ well-being. Unwanted pregnancies, HIV and AIDS, and malnutrition are all increased by gender stereotypes and discrimination. Girls are shut off from the information and equipment they need to stay healthy and safe, especially in emergency situations and locations where menstruation is still taboo.

Gender discrimination can become violent in its most insidious form. Around 13 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have been subjected to forced sex. Adolescent girls are the most vulnerable to gender-based violence in both peace and conflict. Hundreds of millions of girls around the world are still subjected to child marriage and female genital mutilation, despite the fact that both have been recognised as human rights crimes internationally. And violence can occur during childbirth, especially in areas where female infanticide is a problem.

At the highest levels, harmful gender norms are promoted. In other nations, laws and policies that fail to safeguard – or even violate – girls’ rights, such as laws prohibiting women from inheriting property, become established. Gender norms affect boys as well: social ideas of masculinity can fuel child labour, gang violence, school dropouts, and armed group recruitment.

What Progress has been made for Girls and Young Women?

Despite significant obstacles that continue to deny them equal rights, girls are unafraid to pursue their dreams. The globe has seen unequal progress since the signing of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 – the most comprehensive policy agenda for gender equality.

Girls are attending and completing school in greater numbers, and fewer are marrying or becoming moms while still children. Discrimination and stereotypes persist, however. Girls face new problems as a result of technological advancements and humanitarian crises, while old ones — violence, entrenched biases, and limited learning and life chances – endure.

That is why young women from all areas of life are speaking out against inequity. Stopping child marriage and female genital mutilation, demanding action on climate change, and breaking new ground in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are all examples of girl-led groups asserting their authority as global change-makers.

5 Simple Ways To Manage Anxiety

The suffocating sensation of your heart pounding and sinking, the feeling that there is nothing good around you and that you are continually imprisoned in a circle of negativity. This is something that we have all experienced at some point in our lives. Especially in light of the current situation, where the entire planet is on the verge of collapsing due to a virus, every occurrence sends shivers down the spines of practically everyone. We can’t deny that the current situation is having an impact on our emotional and mental health, but we also can’t give in and lose our spark in these trying times. We must gather our resources and fortify our resolve.

Nobody can tell you that being anxious is abnormal. What isn’t natural is succumbing to it and allowing your anxiety to rule you. You’ll need to gather your thoughts and get a handle on the problem before you can figure out how to cope with it. Anxiety is associated with feelings of despair, pessimism, and agitation, yet there are various ways to overcome it.

Nobody can tell you that being anxious is abnormal. What isn’t natural is succumbing to it and allowing your anxiety to rule you. You’ll need to gather your thoughts and get a handle on the problem before you can figure out how to cope with it. Anxiety is associated with feelings of despair, pessimism, and agitation, yet there are various ways to overcome it.

1. Mindfulness

When you feel like everything around you is spinning out of control and you need some time to step back and reflect on your life. Close your eyes and meditate while sitting calmly in fresh air. Meditation is a state of relaxation in which your body is put on hold and all of your muscles relax. The blood pressure drops, and you can feel your thoughts all the way down to your bones. You don’t need to have a clear mind right now; the thoughts that are bothering you need to be acknowledged, and only then will they be expelled from your system.Take a few deep breaths to relax and feel all of the stress leave your body. Be open to all of the positive energies that are all around you.

Meditation is an excellent approach to reduce stress and quiet a racing mind. It is the simplest method to set aside some time to address and eliminate the things that cause you anxiety.

2. Get some rest

A good sleeping routine is required to equip your body to withstand all of life’s instabilities. As simple as it may appear, only those who suffer from anxiety difficulties understand how tough it is to go asleep when your thoughts are continuously bothering you. Anxiety causes insomnia and prevents people from falling into a deep slumber where they are free of all their worries and thoughts. But, as a last note, if you hit the hay and are able to sleep nonetheless, there is a greater possibility that when you wake up, you will feel relaxed and refreshed.

‘A good night’s sleep is the bridge between despair and hope,’ as the saying goes. So, do the same and try to fall asleep, allowing your body and mind to recover on their own.

3. Communicate with your loved ones.

There is nothing more therapeutic than sitting down with your family, close friends, or loved ones and having a great talk with them about all the serious and random things that come up. You can moan, rant, and express your insecurities and thoughts, and after a while, you’ll find a heavy load of anxiety lifting from your shoulders. It is always recommended to people who are dwelling into the phase of anxiety to have a few people in their life who can be their 3 Am friends and can lend an ear to all the venting sessions to help them calm down.

Having a full-fledged conversation involving various shades of emotions helps in calming the mind as well as lightens the mood to its best.

‘A good night’s sleep is the bridge between despair and hope,’ as the saying goes. So, do the same and try to fall asleep, allowing your body and mind to recover on their own.

4. Treat yourself to a spa day.

It never hurts to indulge yourself. Even if you’re in the midst of a bad mood, a little self-pampering can completely transform your mood. It is not necessary to go all out, but a little something goes a long way. Give yourself a pedicure/manicure, take a hot shower, mask, and wear your favourite dress with subtle make-up to notice how this changes the entire dismal attitude into one of self-love.

‘A good night’s sleep is the bridge between despair and hope,’ as the saying goes. So, do the same and try to fall asleep, allowing your body and mind to recover on their own.

Anxiety is a mental illness, and sitting in a corner and obsessively thinking about it isn’t going to assist you at all. Instead, make an effort to do something that makes you feel wonderful and energised.

5. Relax and let go

This is a skill that we all need to master: letting go. You have no control over your cognitive process, and you never know what will trigger you at any given moment. There are a number of factors that make you anxious, and you have no control over them. The greatest approach to get rid of all these ideas and reflections is to scribble them down on a piece of paper. You must let go of everything that is bothering you on the inside and is affecting your mental well-being. And writing it out on paper and clearing your mind of all the toxicity will help you feel better in every way.

Writing is the best way to express oneself, and using it to liberate yourself from all the thinking thoughts in your head is one of the most effective ways to do so.

These were the five most straightforward methods for dealing with anxiety and overcoming it. Anxiety leads to sadness, and the only way to avoid slipping into this pit is to face your problems head on and deal with them as effectively as possible.

Anyone who notices a loved one showing signs of anxiety disorders needs to be empathic towards them so that they can be guided through the process with the utmost care and concern. If you believe they require professional care, do not hesitate to contact a psychologist or therapist to assist them in maintaining their mental health.

We hope that we were able to shed some light on the various approaches of dealing with anxiety problems. None of us is an expert or a licensed psychologist, so these suggestions are just based on our own personal experiences. They might work for some and might not for others, make sure to leave your comments down below if any of these were useful for you to relax your mind and soul and proved to be therapeutic for you.

Social Media and its Impact on Teenagers

Many teenagers’ lives are dominated by social media. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of almost 750 13- to 17-year-olds, 45 percent of them are almost always online, and 97 percent use a social media platform like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat But how does social media use affect teenagers?

The Advantages of Social Media

Teens can use social media to establish online identities, engage with others, and form social networks. These networks can be extremely beneficial to youth, especially those who are socially excluded, have impairments, or suffer from chronic illnesses.

Social media is also used by teenagers for enjoyment and self-expression. Furthermore, the platforms can educate kids on a range of topics, including healthy behaviors, by exposing them to current events, allowing them to interact across geographic barriers, and exposing them to current events. Humorous or distracting social media, as well as social media that gives a genuine connection to peers and a large social network, may even help kids avoid sadness.

Social Media Harms

Social media use can also negatively affect teens, distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people’s lives and peer pressure.

The risks might be related to how much social media teens use. A 2019 study of more than 6,500 12- to 15-year-olds in the U.S. found that those who spent more than three hours a day using social media might be at heightened risk for mental health problems. Another 2019 study of more than 12,000 13- to 16-year-olds in England found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens.

Other research has found a link between excessive social media use and depression or anxiety symptoms. Greater social media use, midnight social media use, and emotional involvement in social media — such as feeling upset when unable to go on — were all connected to poor sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and despair in a 2016 research of more than 450 teenagers.

The influence of social media may also be determined by how teens utilise it. According to a 2015 study, social comparison and feedback seeking by teenagers on social media and telephones is associated with depressed symptoms. Furthermore, a tiny 2013 study indicated that older teenagers who used social media passively, such as by just looking at other people’s images, had lower life satisfaction. These declines did not affect those who utilised social media to communicate with others or upload their own content.

And, according to a previous study on the impact of social media on undergraduate college students, the longer they used Facebook, the stronger their opinion that others were happier than they were. However, the more time students spent socialising with their peers, the less they felt this way.

Experts believe that kids who post information on social media are at danger of disclosing intimate images or highly personal stories due to their impulsive natures. Teens may be bullied, harassed, or even blackmailed as a result of this. Teens frequently make posts without thinking about the repercussions or privacy issues.

Protecting your Teen

You can take steps to encourage ethical social media use and mitigate some of its negative impacts. Consider the following suggestions:

Set sensible boundaries: Discuss with your teen how to keep social media from interfering with his or her activities, sleep, food, or homework. Encourage teens to follow a sleep ritual that excludes the use of electronic media, and keep cellphones and tablets out of their rooms. Set a good example by adhering to these guidelines.

Keep an eye on your teen’s social media profiles: Let your teen know that you’ll be reviewing his or her social media accounts on a frequent basis. You should try to perform it at least once a week. Make certain you complete the task.

Describe what isn’t acceptable: Encourage your kid not to gossip, spread rumours, bully, or harm someone’s reputation, whether online or off. Discuss what is proper and safe to publish on social media with your teen.

Encourage your pals to interact with you in person: This is especially crucial for teenagers who are prone to social anxiety.

Talk about social media: Discuss your own social media usage. Inquire about your teen’s use of social media and how it makes him or her feel. Remind your adolescent that social media is full of unreasonable expectations.

Corporate Life Cycle

Every business’s story usually includes the four stages of a corporate life cycle. The specifics, as well as the length of time a corporation spends in each, will differ. Some businesses will experience setbacks or readjustments, forcing them to return to a former stage. Others, on the other hand, may take a different approach to the final stages. In this post, we go through what happens at each stage of the corporate life cycle in greater depth.

What is the Life Cycle of a Company?

A corporate life cycle is the progression of a company’s growth and development from its inception to its eventual demise, which can occur in a variety of ways. A business’s life cycle is divided into four stages:

  • Startup stage
  • Growth and establishment stage
  • Maturity stage
  • Decline or exit

Startup Stage

This is the stage at which the company begins planting, developing, or launching its product or providing services to customers. This can be separated into two parts: pre-launch research and fund-raising, and post-launch product or service production and launch.

The start-up stage spans the time between when a business is founded and when it reaches its first key degree of stability. The company’s founder creates prototypes or pilots, solicits and analyses comments, and seeks out potential investors or sources of funding at the start of this stage.

Other aspects of the start-up stage include:

Financial: The primary purpose of this stage is to secure funding. Owners require finances in order to rent space, purchase raw materials, pay employees, and purchase advertising. Due to the necessity to pay for capital inputs, startup costs are typically substantial, and profit will most certainly lag behind sales.

Personnel: Typically, the owner is the face and name of the company, and their identity is often confused with that of the brand. All significant decisions are made by the owner or owners, who, in the case of small beginning enterprises, play various responsibilities. They may create their own marketing materials, run their own social media accounts, manufacture or provide services, and keep track of their finances.

Goal: At this stage, the most important goals are to gain awareness and attract enough clients to fund the costs of running the business. Another goal is to constantly and swiftly refine the company’s offerings in order to respond to market changes.

Stages of Development and Establishment

The company has begun to generate steady income at this point, and both cash flow and revenue have improved. Redefining goals, reorganising departments, establishing an unified marketing plan, and beginning to explore community and business relationships are all good things to do now. Also, at this time, a distinct company culture may have evolved.

The following are some features of the growth and establishment stage:

Financial: Financially, the company’s profits should readily support wages and overhead at this time. Sales are likely to rise, and profit margins are likely to widen as the company continues to pay off capital investments and loans.

Personnel: Owners become more strategic in their hiring. This is when business leaders assemble teams to whom they entrust their vision and message communication. This necessitates clearly defining duties and responsibilities, as well as carefully hiring personnel who are capable of doing them. This will provide the owner more time and bandwidth to deepen existing client connections while also exploring new opportunities with potential clients and partners.

Goals: Profit and brand-driven goals are the primary objectives at this level. The company wants to be profitable in order to attract extra funding for expansion. It also aspires to increase its market share and strengthen its position.

Maturity Level

Sales may have reached a halt at this point, and earnings should remain stable. A corporate structure with levels of hierarchy and clearly defined positions is normally in place. The company has a well-defined business model and has a steady stream of clients and consumers, with new accounts being added on a regular basis. This may be the ultimate goal for several business owners. For many businesses, the expansion phase is when they look to expand their product line, launch new services, branch out into a new field, or enter a new geographic market.

This stage also has the following characteristics:

Financial: This stage is marked by slow but steady increases in profits and revenue, though the direction of the gain may start to flatten out as competitors and new entrants compete for market share. This is also the time to take advantage of that expansion by combining and utilising available money for expansion—almost like a second stage of the first. If a large-scale expansion is in the works, this could be the time when the company brings in new investors to help fund the project.

Personnel: Management and senior managers may be fully entrenched in their roles at this point.This stage also has the following characteristics: Managers are in charge of departments, and they have specific guidelines. Owners sometimes remove themselves from the equation at this stage as the needs of the firm change, employing individuals to run the company totally so they can focus on new initiatives or new directions within the same company.

Goals: At this stage, a mature company’s goals are focused on reinvention in order to stay relevant in a rapidly changing field.

Accept or Decline

This phase of the corporate life cycle could be viewed as a conclusion or a new beginning. Businesses frequently have two options: expand the business to the point of reinvention or withdraw completely, either by selling the company or handing over complete management to executives. There will be some overall change if the decision is taken to keep the company. Perhaps fresh branding, packaging, or a newly redesigned product to breathe new life into an old favourite.

Financial: At this point, business owners can go in a variety of directions. They can either reinvest in the firm to restart the growth cycle, or they can cash out by selling the company to another company or to the current management. Despite the fact that revenues appear to be stable at this point, practically all businesses will eventually find themselves sharing the market with competitors.

Personnel: The company has dispersed leadership at this time, and departments can operate within well-organized structures.

Goals: The fundamental purpose of this stage of the corporate life cycle is strategic planning. The owner and management must decide whether to continue the same, expand and evolve, or sell the business.