Emotional Intelligence Business Style!


If there was ever going to be a group of people who are able and inclined to show their emotions -I guess Artists and Writers would be the ones! Lets face it - that's what we practice doing. Some of us make drama our way of living! We also practice writing down or capturing our emotions, and in the course of our work we often 'ham it up!'

We are unique, transparent individuals, peculiar in the trait that we are willing to write it all down. Some of us let our emotions hang out like washing flapping on the line, twittering in the breeze, expectantly awaiting comment. Our self-expression is not only public; it can often be permanently on display. And so it should be!

That IS art!

However the purpose of communication is not the same once we enter the business world. Art is a very right-brained activity. In high contrast to this, business communication is a form of transaction. It is a transaction, or a record of transactions that build up a history of trading. This type of communication is related to marketing, bartering, or trading in some way or it just wouldn't be called business.

When I communicate in business I try to be
  1. Succinct
  2. Balanced
  3. Clear about distinct boundaries
  4. Clear about meaning
  5. Aware
  6. Concise and to the point
  7. Informed
  8. Purposeful
  9. Fair
  10. Honest
  11. Firm
  12. Logical

Business communication is likely to be a left brained activity. It is steered by the mathematics concerned with planning, budgeting, pricing, payment, ordering, accounting and balancing. All of these activities are quantifying. They are therefore based on mathematical calculations such as measuring, comparing, valuing. These activities can be loaded with emotion. The concept of money itself is 'loaded.' The very idea of 'valuing' has emotion as its connotation. Emotional Intelligence or E.I. is one way of coming to understand these associations and it can be a method whereby we learn to deal with the emotional side of business. By learning to manage our own "triggers" we are able to prevent feelings from causing us trouble in the process. By understanding and acknowledging our reactions to provocations, we are able to choose

  • when we react
  • when we wait
  • and when we act after careful consideration.

It is ideal for an understanding of E.I. to be percolating through the intricacies of our transactions continuously. If one has knowledge of E.I. it can act as an ethical background to our professional conduct and behaviour.

Even though E.I. is extremely important in business communication, care should be taken. I maintain that it would be good if it were used and fostered differently to the way we use it in our personal communication. In areas like teaching, raising kids and negotiating family feuds, communication is tinged or flushed with emotion. This involvement or 'caring' is essential to the purpose of the interchange. In child rearing and in family matters, it will often be the aim of the exchange. Not so in business. Or I would hope not.

The copyright of the article Emotional Intelligence Business Style! in Working Artists is owned by Jo Murphy. Permission to republish Emotional Intelligence Business Style! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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