Consider what it means to be emotionally intelligent. As you learned from this week’s resources, emotional intelligence is your ability to recognize your feelings along with others’ emotions. In leadership, emotional intelligence is used to manage your emotions while motivating your staff and employees. No one will have all of the traits of being a good leader, so it is important to recognize those traits you must develop in yourself. In this assignment, you will connect emotional intelligence to good leadership skills.
Begin by reviewing this week’s resources again and completing the emotional intelligence self-assessment.
Then, write a self-assessment to address the following:
Describe your personal traits that will help you as an effective leader. Provide missing traits that may hamper your performance as a leader.
Indicate whether you agree with the findings of the emotional intelligence assessment and explain why.
Examine methods to start developing the traits you identified as important but do not currently possess.
Use this assessment to analyze necessary traits for you to become a better leader that addresses possible performance difficulties in a human services organization. These can be your hurdles or those of employees who may work under your supervision.
Full Answer Section
Agreement with the findings of the emotional intelligence assessment
I agree with the findings of the emotional intelligence assessment. The assessment showed that I am strongest in the areas of empathy, communication, and self-management. However, it also showed that I need to work on my patience, delegation skills, and strategic thinking.
Methods to start developing the traits I identified as important but do not currently possess
Here are some methods I can use to start developing the traits I identified as important but do not currently possess:
- Patience: I can practice patience by taking a few deep breaths before reacting to a situation, waiting a few hours before responding to a difficult email, and setting realistic expectations for myself and others.
- Delegation: I can practice delegation by identifying tasks that can be completed by others, assigning tasks to specific people, and providing clear instructions and deadlines.
- Strategic thinking: I can practice strategic thinking by developing a vision for the future, setting goals, and developing a plan to achieve those goals.
Necessary traits to become a better leader in a human services organization
In addition to the traits I listed above, the following traits are also important for leaders in human services organizations:
- Cultural competence: Cultural competence is the ability to understand and respect the values, beliefs, and practices of different cultures.
- Trauma-informed care: Trauma-informed care is a way of providing services that is sensitive to the impact of trauma on people's lives.
- Social justice: Social justice is the belief that all people deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity.
Possible performance difficulties in a human services organization
Some possible performance difficulties that leaders in human services organizations may face include:
- Burnout: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress.
- Compassion fatigue: Compassion fatigue is a secondary form of traumatic stress that can occur in people who are repeatedly exposed to the suffering of others.
- Vicarious trauma: Vicarious trauma is a type of post-traumatic stress disorder that can occur in people who are exposed to the traumatic experiences of others.
Conclusion
I am committed to developing the traits and skills necessary to be an effective leader in a human services organization. I will use the self-assessment I have completed to develop a plan for my personal development. I will also seek out opportunities to learn from other leaders and to get feedback on my performance.
I believe that emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership. Emotionally intelligent leaders are able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. They are also able to communicate effectively and motivate their team members.
I am excited to continue learning and growing as a leader. I believe that I can make a positive difference in the lives of others by leading human services organizations that provide compassionate and effective care.