Empathy
As Business Matters states, one of the indicators of high emotional intelligence is the ability to empathise with people around you. Try to perceive how your subordinates view the world and try to show empathy towards them. If you see things from their perspective more often and try to understand their feelings and mental state, you may be able to understand many things and behaviours that have previously not made sense to you.
Effective communication
Using emotional intelligence is key when communicating with subordinates. Talking to someone in a way that has a real effect is only possible if you are able to perceive how the other person is feeling. Get a better sense of the feelings, mood and communication style of the person you are talking to and adjust the way you communicate with them accordingly.
Ability to resolve conflicts
Many conflicts arise or escalate unnecessarily precisely because the parties involved are incapable of empathy. People are often unwilling to accept and understand the perspective of others. As managers, you should try to resolve conflicts empathetically, listen to all the parties involved, try to understand why they feel the way they do, and, if possible, settle the conflict to everyone's satisfaction.
Recognising problems
Many problems remain hidden. Workers do not always voice their dissatisfaction or frustration out loud. They also sometimes try to hide disillusionment, overwork or problems at work or in their personal lives. Try to use your emotional intelligence to sense how your subordinates are feeling. Learn to read between the lines and recognise the signs that something is wrong before problems grow to unnecessary proportions.
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