Why Emotional Intelligence is the Key to Organizational Wellness

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Emotional Wellness
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Russell Robinson, Ed.D.
September 13, 2023

In 2022, the US Surgeon General's Office, the leading public health authority in the United States, released a report that provides a framework for mental health and well-being. This framework includes several tips and best practices to create a wellness culture where worker voice and equality are emphasized. While the primary users of this framework are workplace wellness industry professionals, savvy CEOs will challenge their Chief Wellness Officers to implement this framework into the organization’s wellness plans. Additionally, savvy CEOs should challenge their Chief Human Resource Officers and Chief Learning Officers to weave this framework into the organization’s talent management philosophy.

The Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well‑Being has the intended outcome of creating a culture where workers feel safe to share their mental health challenges and concerns. Additionally, the Framework intends for there to be equality in organizational wellness policies. To achieve these outcomes, the framework is driven by five “essentials”.  
  1. Protection from Harm – Creating conditions for physical and psychological safety.
  2. Connection Community – Creating conditions for inclusion and belonging.
  3. Work-Life Harmony – Creating the proper blend of work and home activities.
  4. Mattering at Work – Creating conditions for feeling valued and alignment between work and organizational outcomes.
  5. Opportunities for Growth – Having an emphasis on creating a learning culture grounded in vulnerability and curiosity.
From the prism of learning and development, these “essentials” appear to be similar to emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. According to Daniel Goleman, “The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It’s not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but...they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions.”
 

In his book, The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Klaus Schwab makes the argument that the goal of organizations is to empower employees and customers, via the development of emotionally intelligent leaders. Faroshia Ashley, founder of the Netherlands-based consulting firm, Emoworks, believes the past 40+ months have shown organizations need the importance of connectedness, leadership, and adaptability, which are all outcomes of emotional intelligence. McKinsey & Company has made the case that in a post-pandemic world, there is a greater need for more human-centric leaders. Emotionally intelligent leaders help to foster a culture of psychological safety, inclusion and belonging, and employee voice.

With these similarities, it is important for organization leaders, the CEOs, CWOs, CHRO,s and CLOs to look at wellness by creating a cadre of emotionally intelligent leaders. This perspective is beyond viewing emotional intelligence as solely a training exercise. Creating emotionally intelligent leaders should touch all aspects of talent management: interviewing, selecting, onboarding, training, development, promotion, and off-boarding. Additionally, organizational wellness policies should specifically focus on leaders since they are not immune to the wellness challenges in a post-COVID world.

About the Contributor

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    Russell Robinson, Ed.D.

    Founder

    Amplified Research and Consulting, LLC

    Dr. Russell Robinson is the founder of Amplified Research and Consulting, LLC (Amplified Research), which focuses on research, analysis and consulting solutions regarding employee engagement, voice and silence, and talent management. Russell does organizational assessments, focus groups and culture-building coaching services. Russell has spent over twenty years as a civil servant within the US Federal Government providing solutions to improve the workforce experience. Also, Russell is an adjunct professor at American University where he teaches graduate-level leadership classes within the school’s School of Public Affairs. Russell received his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree in Human Organizational Learning from George Washington University. He received a Master’s in Public Administration from American University’s Key Program, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton.

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