Use of Emotional Intelligence for a better working place ambience

1. Emotional Muscle Preeti Shirodkar Assistant Professor, Language Studies MET

2. Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it. Vincent Van Gogh Great ideas originate in the muscles. Thomas A. Edison It is your work in life that is the ultimate seduction. Pablo Picasso

3. What is Emotional Muscle? The ability to deal with emotional upheavals so as to convert their energy into a productive commitment for the self, others and the organisation at large

4. Why Emotional Muscle? Because nothing external is within one’s control To reduce workplace stress One spends more than a third of one’s life, in one’s workplace or engaging in/thinking about work related activities Research has revealed that workplace stress leads to issues related to health, sick leave and emotional exhaustion To maximise performance through a better focus and the energy/time to achieve more To control rather than succumb to the emotional variations/stimuli that one is bound to encounter Spill over and carry forward resulting in a vicious continuity between personal and professional space

5. Six Warning Signs

6. Six Warning Signs

7. Metamorphosing Envy Into Contentment ENVY Whenever a friend succeeds a little, something in me dies – Gore Vidal It is considered by some as the root of success as it gives rise to ambition Envy is a leveller, and it levels downwards It is felt towards ‘equals’, it is no use envying the Queen of England Example: The Ambani Brothers CONTENTMENT A successful person can be seen as a role model as one’s biggest competitor is oneself Setting goals and achieving them based on one’s capabilities Needs to be distinguished from being complacent Results in a ‘actual’ evaluation of the self Example: AzimPremji

8. Exploring The Positive Side Of Pride PRIDE, THE NEGATIVE ANGLE The ‘old is gold’ philosophy Can be targeted against age, gender, class, caste, position May occur due to status or earlier success Highhandedness and complacency Unwillingness to accept/hear an alternative point of view Example: IBM, Henry Ford PRIDE, THE POSITIVE ANGLE Satisfaction from/ appreciation of what one has done Self confidence Ownership of actions/identification with goals/objectives Searching avenues of bettering oneself Example: Lance Armstrong

9. Exploring The Positive Side Of Fear FEAR, THE NEGATIVE ANGLE Fear is faith that it won't work out. - Sister Mary Tricky Can be real or imagined May lead to a subservient attitude Arises out of self doubt and undue concern about evaluation by others Directed/inspired by people, situations or may reflect an inherent feeling Mostly inspired by the unknown or change Example: Engineer from a Swedish Company FEAR, THE POSITIVE ANGLE The antidote to fear lies in understanding that Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. ~Marie Curie Everyone experiences a slight degree of fear, whenever one is in the limelight Success lies in converting fear into excelling It stalls one from failing due to overconfidence Example: NaseemaHurzuk – Helpers of the Handicapped; The Art of Choosing – Sheena Iyengar

10. Metamorphosing Disappointment Into Satisfaction DISAPPOINTMENT High/misplaced expectations Failure to act Contradictory signals/inputs Lack of/delayed acknowledgement Absence of freedom Improper ascribing of praise/blame Example: Indian Companies’ treatment of HR SATISFACTION Making a difference in any way one can Duty for duty’s sake Self evaluation Focus on the action not the effect Long term perspective Awareness of the target rather than the hierarchy Example: SIES College, Sion

11. Metamorphosing Being Frazzled Into Being Collected BEING COLLECTED Focussed multitasking Learning to say ‘no’ Achievable plans and goals Creating one’s own action plan Not getting distracted Being flexible Objective self evaluation Taking relevant breaks and not forcing oneself to perform Example: P. Chidambaram BEING FRAZZLED Mismatch between potential and expectation Undirected multitasking Being saddled with tasks outside one’s purview Unfair delegation of work Unattainable deadlines Unwarranted monitoring and interference Being overburdened Planning without execution Example: BARE International

12. Metamorphosing Facing Ennui Into Feeling Engaged FACING ENNUI Doing repetitive tasks Procrastinating Limiting the scope of one’s role Bowing unquestioningly to others’ wishes Being restive, complacent and inactive Stagnant approach to tasks Unwillingness to learn, accept change Example: Mafatlal Family Scions FEELING ENGAGED Taking up opportunities as challenges Treating the profession as a vocation Taking initiatives Moving with the times Focussing on internal rather than external gratification/self growth Staying with one’s values Target oriented planning and execution Example: The Starbucks Story of Michael Gill

13. Four Cornerstones Of Achieving Emotional Muscle Grant me the serenity To accept the things, I cannot change To change the things I can The wisdom to know the difference The ability to focus on the positives and cut off any regrets for the negatives

14. On Achieving The Emotional Muscle Maximises self satisfaction and performance Reduces stress Brings out the best in oneself and others Facilitates taking up newer challenges and multitasking Generates better group dynamics Acceleration of organisational growth

15. Bibliography Gill, Michael (2007): How STARBUCKS Saved My Life, London: Harper Collins Publishers Gross, James J. (2006): Handbook of Emotion Regulation, Guilford Publications for Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions Gurcharan Das (2009): The Difficulty of Being Good, New Delhi: Penguin – Allen Lane www.docstoc.com, visited on 23rd August, 2010 www.brainyquote.com, visited on 24th August, 2010 www.quotegarden.com, visited on 24th August, 2010

16. Any Questions? Thank You