Emotional Ignorance is Expensive

In our day-to-day lives, we are bound to encounter people who lack empathy. It might be the person in line ahead of us haranguing the stressed-out grocery store clerk, or the Facebook warrior calling people names in the comment section. And each of us, at one time or another, has done harm to someone else by failing to consider their emotions. We know first-hand the cost of emotional ignorance.

That’s why we must strive for empathy. As a professional leadership coach, I have seen the positive impact of emotional literacy on corporate culture time and time again. Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions and the emotions of others, as well as the ability to effectively manage those emotions.

Emotional intelligence, a related concept, has gained prominence lately as a key indicator of personal and organizational success. Daniel Goleman popularized the term in Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.  In the book, he identifies five components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Leaders who possess these skills are better equipped to understand and manage their own emotions and the emotions of their team members.

A leader who is emotionally literate can respond to any situation with empathy. They notice when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed and take steps to address those feelings before they impact their team. Similarly, an empathetic leader notices the emotions of their team members and responds in a way that supports them, such as offering flexibility or additional help on a project.

By contrast, leaders who lack emotional intelligence struggle to manage their own emotions, leading to stress and burnout. They are also less apt to consider the emotions of their team members, leading to communication breakdowns, destructive conflicts, and a toxic work environment.

One study found that companies with emotionally intelligent leaders had higher levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction, as well as lower levels of turnover and absenteeism. This suggests that emotional intelligence is not just beneficial for individual leaders, but for the entire organization.

To foster emotional literacy in the workplace, leaders can take a number of steps. It is essential to encourage open communication and provide opportunities for employees to share their thoughts and feelings. Periodic check-ins are therapeutic and help normalize a culture of openness and vulnerability. Leaders can also model emotional intelligence by being transparent about their own feelings and demonstrating empathy toward others.

In addition, leaders can provide training and development opportunities for employees to build their emotional intelligence skills. This might include workshops on communication, conflict resolution, and stress management, as well as coaching and mentoring programs to support growth and development.

Emotional literacy plays a crucial role in shaping corporate culture. By fostering emotional intelligence among leaders and employees alike, companies can create a more positive and supportive work environment that promotes engagement, productivity, and success.

At Emergent, we are committed to helping organizations build their emotional literacy and create a culture that supports the well-being and success of all team members. If you’re interested in learning more about our coaching services or would like to discuss how we can support you in developing your emotional intelligence and leadership skills, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by commenting below or emailing me directly at Jeremiah@getemergent.com. We look forward to supporting you on your journey toward higher levels of emotional literacy.