Emotional Wellness
Over the past several weeks we have looked at six of the seven wellness attributes: 1) Physical, 2) Social, 3) Spiritual, 4) Occupational, 5) Environmental, and 6) Intellectual. All are important. All require an investment of time and energy to ensure that each is getting a requisite, but not necessarily equal amount of time and attention.
The final wellness attribute is emotional wellness, or emotional intelligence (EQ). In 1995, Goleman moved this wellness topic to the top of the wellness charts and today business leaders are attempting to discern how to hire and develop employees with greater emotional wellness to improve a company’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
However, emotional wellness does not respond to a one-size-fits-all development plan. Personally, when I am emotionally out of sync, a run will likely right my ship. Michelle, my wife, is more likely to want to talk it out. Fortunately, we figured this out soon enough in our marriage to not strangle each other.
Unfortunately though, all too often leaders do not spend the requisite time determining how peers, supervisors, and employees improve their personal emotional wellness. We prescribe whatever works for us and expect everyone around to just “get well soon”.
Emotional wellness is first and foremost about recognizing when our emotions are not in a good place. Second, we must be able to manage those emotions in order to improve our performance.
A recent report suggests that “most” employees like a work schedule that is three days in the office and two days at home. This makes sense. Humans need relationships to drive collaboration, and alone time for increased creativity. Together, this balance makes employees more productive.
Next time you get emotionally derailed (i.e., emotionally unhealthy) ask yourself what caused the train wreck. What is the underlying cause? This will allow you to prevent emotional illness in the future. And when an emotionally stressful situation is successfully navigated, celebrate! Capture the moment and use it to remain emotionally well in the future.
“Take an emotional wellness inventory of yourself today. What do you need to maintain or improve your current emotional state?”
