6 Emotional-Intelligence Job Skills Required

Lolly Daskal posted an article on LinkedIn about the importance of 6 emotional-intelligence (EQ) required in the next few years.
Daskal says that two-Thirds of Americans believe that in 50 years robots and computers will do much of the work humans do today. Some studies predict that 5 million jobs will be lost to automation by 2020.
So, what skills can you acquire to protect your employability in the future?
Surprisingly, they’re not related to a specific position or industry but are grounded in emotional intelligence. Here are some of the top skills that can never be automated or outsourced:

1. Knowing yourself.
We must know how we function in the world, be in touch with how we feel, and know our strengths & weaknesses. We must also know how our emotions and actions can effect the people around us. These attributes-and especially the ability to help others develop them-are important to anyone working with a successful (human) team.

2. Building relationships.
Human beings are naturally social creatures. We crave friendship and positive interactions just as we do food and water. So, it makes sense that the skills involved in building and maintaining relationships are never going out of style.

3. Active listening.
Successful communication requires a speaker and a listener. Whether you agree with the speaker, whether you’re remotely interested in what they’re saying, focus on their words, tone and body language and they’ll feel heard in way no machine can duplicate. As Covey says, we must listen with our heart, ears and eyes.

4. Expressing Empathy.
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another is a key element in building trust, which in turn, is a key element of leadership. We must have the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. No automated feedback can generate empathy.

5. Giving feedback.
Providing effective feedback is a useful benefit for both the giver and the receiver, which, if leveraged properly, can lead to real growth and development. And, proper feedback will always require a person-to-person connection.

6. Managing stress.
The skill of managing stress, our own and that of others, will never be obsolete. Stress impacts a team’s ability to do their jobs effectively. Create a line of defences against stressful situations that you cannot control. Use your network, be sure to get enough exercise and sleep, and learn to relax. Meditation is a very useful habit for all leaders.

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