Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Healthcare Aspirants

Knowledge and practical experience will always be important factors in determining the best talent in healthcare. However, experts say that emotional intelligence (often referred to as EI or EQ) is an extremely valuable social skill – the ability to perceive, control and express their emotions and to know people’s feelings. And respond appropriately – which successful doctors or nurses should possess to deliver quality patient care effectively.

Recruitment for emotional intelligence

According to Murphy, 46 percent of new employees fail within 18 months of being hired – 89 percent of that time for attitude, and low EI is second only to the reasons for failure. He, therefore, suggests asking two questions when looking for new applicants to gauge their EI:

1. “Tell me a mistake you made when you were at work.”

• The people you want to know here that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as they acknowledge the errors, make corrections, help others avoid similar mistakes, and move on. Those with low EI do not take much responsibility for their mistakes.

2. “Tell me about when you got a tough response from your boss.”

• Emotionally intelligent people are self-aware, confident, and open-minded; they have thick skin to get important ratings and feedback. People with low EI tend to be offensive or defensive when harshly criticized.

It is also important to listen and monitor how candidates react, says Murphy. For example, do they break into the first thing that comes to mind, or do they take the time to answer difficult questions and how comfortable are they in that silence? The applicant’s choice of words can provide insight into whether they understand how they feel, how others think, what caused the situation, and how this understanding led them to react.

Emotional intelligence in leadership

Emotional Intelligence is an integral part of effective leadership. Healthcare leaders need to have a solid understanding of how their feelings and actions affect those around them. The better a doctor or nurse connects and works with others, the better they will be at enabling patients to understand their needs, identify and manage resentment, and find long-term solutions.

American psychologist Daniel Goleman developed a five-factor EI framework:

Self-awareness – Understanding problems or situations that evoke or go through emotions.

Self-control – It is the ability to remain calm when emotions rise.

Motivation – Constantly strive to improve yourself and meet challenges with enthusiasm.

Compassion – Knowing and understanding the wants, needs, and perspectives, even when those feelings are unclear.

Social Skills – Social skills are considered more important to help others grow and grow than to focus on your success. The students also practice handling disputes and building strong relationships.

Conclusion:

To be successful, you must have a solid understanding of how your feelings and actions affect those around you. From staff to patients and from service to training, working in the aforementioned areas can help you succeed in your career and even in your personal life. How do some EIs affect your healthcare providers?

The industry’s health management approach is very important and involves many important tasks and challenges. We IIHMR, Delhi, can help you choose any of these careers.