Employee Engagement Podcast #6: General Mood

Quinn Byrne Coaching

Our final Emotional Intelligence podcast in the Employee Engagement series focuses on the area of General Mood. There are two attributes to consider: Optimism and Happiness.

Optimism refers to how we feel about the future, whereas happiness is about how we feel now. Not surprisingly, they are closely associated. Michael points out that these variables are very susceptible to recent events in an individual’s life, for example: bereavement. However, when unhappiness persists over time, it affects optimism, and has a significant impact on a individual’s level of workplace engagement.

Michael reminds us that the different layers of the Emotional Intelligence model are interdependent, with the roots of many issues being found in the Intrapersonal zone.

“If optimism is low … then invariably, if you look to the intrapersonal, at the inner dialogue … they are not perceiving themselves as successively successful, and they are not perceiving themselves as realising their potential.”

As we conclude the discussion of Emotional Intelligence in the context of Employee Engagement, we consider the contrarian view that feelings and emotions have no place in business. Michael points out that in the developed world, our culture places a high value on personal fullfilment and satisfaction. In a successful economy, workers have choices, and their retention and continued productivity depends on them feeling that their needs are considered, and their contributions recognised.

Next week we’ll conclude the parallel podcast track on Emotional Intelligence for Customer Experience. Having laid the ground work for the subject, Michael is looking forward to developing these ideas in future episodes using practical case studies and listener’s questions.

Feedback: Michael AT QBC.ie. Call or text [phone].

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