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Section 9 – Working in Teams
Empathy.
Empathy is more than “feeling bad for other people.”
Individuals
that have strong social and emotional intelligence understand
that empathy is about walking in a person’s shoes and internalizing their
feelings in order to relate to that person. You can increase your ability to
empathize with others by practicing arguing an opposite point of view. If you
believe your boss made a poor decision, try defending her actions in your
head. Once you establish credible arguments that support the boss’s actions,
ask yourself if you would have made a similar decision under similar
circumstance. Being able to see another person’s point of view and listening
without bias are invaluable skills to have when you are on a team.
Social Skills.
Social intelligence includes a range of abilities related to
interacting effectively with others. It includes being aware of other people’s
feelings and being able to adjust how you interact with people to obtain the
optimal result. It also means having the ability to resolve problems and
disagreements without involving inappropriate emotion. People with high
social intelligence “fight fair” meaning they don’t throw people under the bus
or manipulate to gain an advantage. They are also mindful of their nonverbal
communication, as well as the nonverbal signals of others. Crossed arms,
rolling eyes, or a furrowed brow do not communicate a desire to resolve a
conflict. Those types of behaviors escalate tension. Whether you are using
social intelligence on the job or in your personal life, you want to end a
conflict on a cooperative note. Let your boss, coworker, or significant other
know that even though you have different views, you want to work towards
the same goal. Reflect empathy and take responsibility for your role in the
disagreement or conflict. This is not a sign of weakness, rather it demonstrates
self-awareness and integrity and will expedite a successful resolution. By
incorporating the techniques related to empathizing and self-management
you have learned, you will be more prepared to negotiate conflicts and be a
team leader.
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