Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

teams 365 #3395: FRIDAY – FLASHBACK: TEAMS 365 #16: WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS IMPORTANT

4/21/2023

TEAMS 365 #16: WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS IMPORTANT
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is sometimes considered an add on by organizations who may question why it is important. One of the reasons why the development of emotional intelligence skills is important is due to the fact that as we evolve as leaders, our skill set requirements change. As we progress in our leadership journey, our technical skills no longer become the skills we need to lead with. In fact, it is many of the skills that are included in the Emotional Intelligence model - relationship building, self-management, influence, conflict management, change. self-confidence, adaptability, which are so important as we progress through our leadership journey.

Daniel Goleman outlines 21 competencies or skills which are part of the Emotional Intelligence model. Many which I have just mentioned are taken from Goleman's model.

What are the skills you find you are leading from or needing at the moment?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Potentials Realized
Author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
(416)996-TEAM (8326)

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

#teams365 #3084 IN Focus: Emotional Intelligence – Relationship Building

6/15/2022

One of the core elements of Emotional Intelligence which is really important is that of Relationship Building. What is important to be focusing on in your relationships right now?
Here’s what I shared about Relationship Building and EI back in one of the first year’s of the blog – just as relevant today as it was then:
“Elements of Emotional Intelligence – Relationship Building

This week we are taking a look at the Relationship Management component of the Emotional Intelligence model. Last week we explored Self-Management here at the Teams365 blog.

Relationship Management refers to our ability to build strong and effective relationships with others. In today's business context having strong relationships are not enough. In fact, we want to couple those key relationships with a clear focus on goals and what we need to do. For many technical experts who move into the team leadership role the task focus may come easy, and the relationship management piece is the stretch.

Key areas Goleman identified as competencies in the area of relationship management are:

Influence

Developing Others
Inspiration
Teamwork and collaboration
Conflict management

Future posts will address several of these areas more in-depth. as you consider these categories, how do you define them in your work? Which ones are your strengths?”
Originally published at
https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-496-emotional-intelligence-relationship-management

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

#teams365 #3083 Brain Tip – Emotional Contagion

6/14/2022

As we continue our journey with Chapter 17 of Reconnecting Workspaces, I wanted to draw our attention to an important scientific element known as Emotional Contagion. Even in the remote and hybrid spaces, we can be heavily influenced by those around us.
Here’s what I share in Reconnecting Workspaces:
Chapter 17 - Brain tip: EMOTIONAL CONTAGION
There’s a saying that “one bad apple spoils the bunch.” Emotional contagion is a term which
has evolved to describe the impact of emotions on others. It’s been well researched, including by Schachter (1959), Cacioppo and Petty (1987), and Levy and Nail (1993).245

The significance for virtual teams is that emotional contagion spreads across a Zoom room, just as it may in person. Given that our touchpoints are more magnified, the impact of a negative or positive affect may have an even greater impact.

In her article, “Faster than a Speeding Text: ‘Emotional Contagion’ at Work,”246 Sigal Barsade cites her research around emotional contagion in the group context in a study entitled, “The Ripple Effect:Emotional Contagion and Its Influence on Group Behavior.”247

The study found that “the positive emotional contagion group members experienced improved
cooperation, decreased conflict, and increased perceived task performance.”

Barsade writes, “In fact, executives can use their knowledge of the impact of mood contagion to
create more positive team dynamics, increase performance, and decrease turnover by consciously managing their own emotions and the emotions they want to spread.”

Given that the communication and culture of virtual teams can be magnified due to the lack of
ongoing touchpoints, leaders and team members can benefit from becoming more sensitive to the tone and emotion behind their communications and how this can be construed.” – Excerpt, Reconnecting Workspaces, Chapter 17, © Jennifer Britton, 2021

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

#teams365 #3079 FlashBack Friday – Emotional Intelligence and Being a Change Catalyst

6/10/2022

Change is everywhere right now. From major shifts in the workspace to economics and geo-political events. Being able to adapt and be resilient are key skills. For today’s Flashback Friday I thought it would be valuable to take a look at an older post on being a change catalyst – as relevant today as it was when I wrote it:
As we continue our journey through the Emotional Intelligence sub-competencies of relationship management, change catalyst is another key skill in leadership today. Today the norm for most leaders is working in ever changing contexts, and needing to adapt "on the fly".

According to Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee, leaders high in this competency "are able to recognize the need for change, challenge the status quot, and champion the new order. They can be strong advocates for the change even int he face of opposition, making the argument for it compellingly. They also find practical barriers to change".

As you think about your skills, where do they reside in this area of being a change catalyst?

Part of being a change catalyst is also recognizing how people go through change. Roger's change model identified six different stages or ways people may approach the change process:. You may have members on your team who are innovators (those that are eager to create change), early adopters (those who embrace the change early on), early majority (those who get on the bus relatively early), late majority (those who slowly adapt/get on the bus with change) and the laggards (those who resist change). Being aware of who will be advocates for change on the team is just as important as recognizing those who might need more support, conversation/attention throughout any change process.

What do you recognize in yourself about how you respond to, and initiate, change?

Originally published at:
https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-504-emotional-intelligence-change-catalyst

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

#teams365 #3077 Virtual, Remote and Hybrid Principle with Emotional Intelligence

6/9/2022

This week we are exploring Chapter 17 of Reconnecting Workspaces on Emotional Intelligence. As I share in the book, “Virtual and remote leaders need enhanced skills in EI (emotional intelligence)
to know themselves, manage themselves, navigate relationships, and understand their
colleagues. Given that things get magnified in the virtual space, so can our styles, including the
good, bad, and not so great.”

Consider these questions:

What has gotten magnified for you and your team in the virtual space? Consider elements such as meetings, presentations, projects, and conflict?
What are the different preferences which exist on the team?
What are the hybrid work styles in your team?
If you haven’t taken the Hybrid Work Styles Quiz, be sure to check it out at https://bitly.com/hybridworkquiz.
It will only take 5 minutes. Check it out and let us know which of the 5 Hybrid Work Styles you are.

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

TEAMS365 #2300 Flashback Friday: Teams365 #1533 - Empathy and Building Connection with Virtual Teams

4/17/2020

One of the skills which is important to develop in the virtual world today is empathy. One of the challenges is that we don't get to see beyond the screen. What are some ways we can be building more empathy and understanding with other virtual team members?

What comes to mind in terms of ways you can boost more connection and understanding amongst team members?

Empathy is a skill set critical for teamwork and leadership. In fact, I probably could do a series of posts on this topic. In today's post, I want to zoom into the question of "what are some practical ways to build more empathy across virtual teams, while also boosting connection?".

There have been some great writings by others on the topic of empathy. Consider these articles - Empathy in Leadership - 10 Reasons Why It Matters by Tanveer Naseer. Read it here.
Matthew Taylor's Empathy in Leadership: Coaching Leaders to Manage Their Stories. Read it here.
Center for Creative Leadership: Empathy in the Workplace. Find this here.

As virtual teams, what are some ways we can build our skills in empathy while building connection?

1. Provide opportunities for team members to get to know each other - online and offline. While some virtual teams will never meet, building in time for "getting to know" each other is critical. This could entail dedicating some time to sharing "What's outside your window?" or" on your desk?" as I describe in Chapter 7 of my new book Effective Virtual Conversations.

2. Create formal learning partnerships with others on the team. Many virtual teams benefit from having peer partners to meet with on a regular basis. This helps us to learn more about each other, what projects we are working on. As we listen and learn more trust, connection and understanding are created.

3. Be present and listen. We continue to see how important the ability to focus on virtual conversations is. Nothing will destroy trust and connection faster than hearing the other person on the end of the phone or streaming typing away -doing an email while you are speaking together. What will it take to be present, focus, and deeply listen in your virtual conversations?

4. Listen for the deeper layers. Typically, in listening we may be staying at the surface. Hearing with one ear and thinking about what we are going to say back to the other person. In the deeper listening needed by virtual teams today, listen to what the person is saying. Notice the pace, pitch of the conversation. Notice what is the emotion behind the words? What is being said?

5. Take time to share more about your world, your work, your priorities. An important part of empathy is understanding. It's a two-way street - being open to share and being receptive to listening. how much are you sharing about your world, your work and your priorities?

There are multiple ways we can be focusing on the skills of empathy as we build connection on teams. What are some approaches you as a team want to focus on?

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your Q2 planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon, or join me for the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program

Contact us to discuss how we can support you and your teams and organization with remote work.

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#TEAMS365 #2104 – Flashback Friday – Empathy and Connection in Remote Teams

10/4/2019

This week’s Flashback Friday takes us back to a 2015 post I entitled “Empathy and Connection in Virtual Teams”. Emotional Intelligence skills such as relationship building, influence and fostering trust and connection become even more important in today’s remote and virtual teams. I thought it would be useful to revisit this post to get you thinking about what you are doing and what you could expand upon.

Here’s what I wrote in Teams365 #1533:

One of the skills which is important to develop in the virtual world today is empathy. One of the challenges is that we don't get to see beyond the screen. What are some ways we can be building more empathy and understanding with other virtual team members?

What comes to mind in terms of ways you can boost more connection and understanding amongst team members?

Empathy is a skill set critical for teamwork and leadership. In fact, I probably could do a series of posts on this topic. In today's post, I want to zoom into the question of "what are some practical ways to build more empathy across virtual teams, while also boosting connection?".

There have been some great writings by others on the topic of empathy. Consider these articles -

Empathy in Leadership - 10 Reasons Why It Matters by Tanveer Naseer. Read it here.

Matthew Taylor's Empathy in Leadership: Coaching Leaders to Manage Their Stories. Read it here.

Center for Creative Leadership: Empathy in the Workplace. Find this here.

As virtual teams, here are some ways we can build our skills in empathy while building connection:

1. Provide opportunities for team members to get to know each other - online and offline. While some virtual teams will never meet, building in time for "getting to know" each other is critical. This could entail dedicating some time to sharing "what's outside your window" or “on your desk" as I describe in Chapter 7 of my new book Effective Virtual Conversations.

2. Create formal learning partnerships with others on the team. Many virtual teams benefit from having peer partners to meet with on a regular basis. This helps us to learn more about each other, what projects we are working on. As we listen and learn more trust, connection and understanding is created.

3. Be present and listen. We continue to see how important the ability to focus on virtual conversations is. Nothing will destroy trust and connection faster than hearing another person on the end of the phone or typing away at an email while you are speaking together. What will it take to be present, focus, and deeply listen in your virtual conversations?

4. Listen for the deeper layers - typically in listening we may be staying at the surface. Hearing with one ear and thinking about what we are going to say back to the other person. In the deeper listening needed by virtual teams today, listen to what the person is saying. Notice the pace, pitch of the conversation. Notice what is the emotion behind the words? What is being said?

5. Take time to share more about your world, your work, your priorities. An important part of empathy is understanding. It's a two-way street - being open to share, and being receptive to listening. how much are you sharing about your world, your work and your priorities?

There are multiple ways be can be focusing on the skills of empathy as we build connection on teams. What are some approaches you as a team want to focus on?

You can read the original post here.

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.
For those looking for tips, tools and ideas about remote work and support for your remote teams, be sure to check out these tags and resources.

#TEAMS365 #1980 – Weekly Journaling Prompt #52: AT your Best....

6/2/2019

It’s time for another weekly journaling prompt. These are geared to get you to build in a pause point every week and think about what is important to you.

This week the question is “at my best I am….”

In past posts I've shared the benefits of journaling. You can read that post here.

One of the activities I take a lot of teams through is this reflectin of who they are when they are at their best. Reconnecting with what's worked, and who we are when we are leveraging our skills and strengths can create a strong pivot.

Today I hope you will find some time to create a few minutes to capture reflections of times when you were at your best.

Enjoy your writing!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1972 – Weekly Journaling Prompt 51

5/25/2019

This week’s Weekly Journaling Prompt gets you thinking about the question “Something I won’t forget….”

Our memories can easily fade and transmute with time. Writing things out provides us with a clearer indication of what did happen.

As you consider the events from the last few months, what are the things you want to remember? What are the things you don’t want to forget next time….?

A quick reminder that I have pulled the Weekly Journaling Prompts together in a quarterly format. You can pick up and download the first 12 weeks of the series in a new downloadable booklet format at the Potentials Realized store. Here are a few shots of Volume 1 – the first 12 weeks in action.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1969 – Teamwork in Uncertainty – Comfort With The Unknown

5/22/2019

Today’s blog post gets us thinking about values. Values serve as anchors or a compass, leading the way or anchoring us when we need to make decisions, prioritize and focus.

In an uncertain context, being clear about our behaviors as a team is critical. As we go to explore our values, we may first want to consider what our values are individually. To do this, we might explore the following questions:

What is important to me?
What are the things I will take a stand for?
What’s absolutely essential to have in my work/life?
What makes me angry/happy/at ease?

All of these questions will usually point to a value which is important.

Underneath the words of a value are the behaviors. What do the values look like in action? If I were to take my phone into the workplace and record behaviors, what would I see?

As a team, and especially a remote team, having a focus on values can help during periods of uncertainty. Even though the context may change, hopefully our values are not changing in the arena.

As a team, this week consider what your top 3 operating values are this year. What are you committed to, no matter what? Behaviorally, what do these values look like in action?

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development).
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in an digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.