Dear Reader: How can emotional intelligence help you not only on the job, but to crush your next job interview?

Let’s talk about emotional intelligence. Vanessa Urch Druskat, associate professor at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, leadership and team performance expert and author of “The Emotionally Intelligent Team: Building Collaborative Groups that Outperform the Rest,” said, “I define emotional intelligence (EI) as using one’s own (emotion) and others’ emotions like data that can be used to engage in more effective social interactions and to make better decisions. The skill involves accessing that emotion, labeling it as accurately as possible and then managing it in ways that serve one’s own and others’ goals. The human brain evolved to rely on our emotion system to rapidly diagnose situations. That speed is far faster than our cognitive (IQ) system. Emotional intelligence allows us to notice that diagnosis so that we can choose how to react rather than letter the emotion drive us into a reaction that may not serve our goals.”

In her college classroom, Druskat has found Dr. Marc Brackett’s book, “Permission to Feel: The Power of Emotional Intelligence to Achieve Well-Being and Success,” to be particularly helpful due to the ideas about how to label and manage emotion. For executive leadership, she recommends “Primal Leadership: Unleashing the Power of Emotional Intelligence,” by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee, for its exercises and ideas for leaders who experience complex social situations.

As for acing a job interview by leaning into EI, Druskat said, “Our cognitive (IQ) brain is often at its sharpest when it experiences overall calm and homeostasis or a small amount to stress, which can keep it awake and sharp. Our creative brain prefers positive emotion and a small amount of stress to open up its ability to take in new information and ideas. How we best get ourselves into these brain states varies from person to person, but knowing oneself helps, as does practice.”

For example, a while ago Druskat interviewed for a public relations job, but she knew her nerves could have diminished her ability to articulately respond to questions. “Before I left my home for the interview I turned on calm music and laid down for 10 minutes, allowing myself to let go of my nervousness and tune into my excitement about the position,” Druskat said. “I maintained that mindset throughout my interviews. I can tell you that it was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.”

The second key skill is to focus on emotions your interviewers feel and adapt to their needs. “An interview is not a set of monologue responses to questions. It’s a social interaction that, like any interaction, involves an exchange of emotions. Emotions are often contagious. What are they channeling in your direction? I’ve always been surprised by how often interviewers are nervous themselves or sometimes frustrated,” said Druskat.

“Putting your best self forward is important, and that includes your best social self. Listen — tune in to what they say and to the emotions they pass on. Get curious and take an interest in them. This interview is an exchange of emotions, and your interest in them will improve your social interaction.”

Tribune News Service