EMOTIONAL JUDGEMENT, A VITAL ASSET FOR ANYONE WORKING WITH OTHERS

What is emotional judgement?

We may not always be aware of it, but we constantly apply emotional judgement: we need to be able to respond constructively to our coworkers emotions, build positive relationships with them, manage our own emotions so we do not disrupt workflows and the productivity of others and express ourselves appropriately. Ultimately, emotional judgement is a vital asset for anyone working with other people, be that as part of a team, with clients or customers, or even in healthcare settings.

An essential skill in all roles, emotional judgement plays a particularly big part in leadership positions. Individuals with well-developed emotional judgement have a positive influence on the rest of their team, acting as emotional stabilisers and motivating others to perform better. They are also capable of reflecting on their own behaviour, empathetically listen to others and handle sensitive or emotionally difficult situations.

Why is emotional judgement important in the workplace?

Like many soft skills, emotional judgement is an essential part of every workplace, regardless of industry. Building rapport, be that with coworkers, clients, patients, customers, stakeholders, networking contacts or government officials, is vital. Emotional judgement can even have positive effects on aspects outside of the workplace, as increased self awareness and ability to manage emotions can be connected to a more positive outlook on life.

Emotional judgement is closely tied to another concept, emotional intelligence, which was popularised by Daniel Goleman. In a Harvard Business Review article, Goleman stated that “emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership.” This assertion is further supported by research. For instance, a study by KRW International showed that CEOs that had higher ratings from their employees on integrity, responsibility, forgiveness and compassion performed better than those with lower scores in all categories.

Emotionally intelligent employees with sound emotional judgement are an asset to any organisation. It’s not only leaders that profit from emotional judgement, though. It can also be a tool to get ahead, by improving performance at job interviews, driving team productivity and building better relationships with managers and bosses.