Ethics & Emotional Intelligence – an important aspect of Training

In the present age, business environments have grown complex with spatial boundaries being relegated at the back seat owing to the presence of augmented connectivity amongst peers and consumers. Product-Service boundaries are fuzzy with increasing aggregator models, pay-as-a-service models, and subscription models. This has given rise to diversity in funding models, having incubators, entrepreneurs and angel investors pitch in to compete with institutional models. The workplace norms have undergone a sea of change alongside employment models/expectations, creating a space for re-evaluation of ethics and culture of modern workforce in general.

Yet, the core focal point remains the same for even the most progressive of organizations- their values. Establishments continue to enshrine the essence of what it is like to work with them, in their values. Values (even when not labelled as such) would address the how the organization would treat its employees, customers, and shareholders. We believe that prolific leadership can deliver successful performance, being aided by two strengths; firstly, the ability to demonstrate integrity to their own (and the organizational) values and secondly, manage and address their emotional needs in their journey to success. Thus, emotional connect and ethics play an impactful role in segregating an enriching organisation from a slew of good organizations.

Do Ethics require a place in organizational training?

The word “Ethics” means the code of moral principles that guide a person’s behaviour. For an organization that upholds the sanctity of ethics often set the ground rules and standards of integrity to be followed by the rest of the organization. Organizational Culture –depends on leaders being strong role-models of its values and showing integrity in thought, words and action. By extension, anticipating ethical conflict at workplace and having clear resolution for them is the key to effective leadership. Employees require the benefit of ethical training to meet the standards set by the organization’s policies and codes of conduct. Ethical conduct is the basis for long-term success in any organization while promoting a strong public image for the organization. People tend to respect an organization that makes ethical choices, leading to an increase in visibility and customer engagement. Through a prolific body of ethics, attention is focused on inculcation of productive activities, maintaining quality and productivity as a sign to distinction from competition. Finally, importance on organizational ethics enables employees to work in a harmonious environment, creating a rush of constructive solutions to the various issues faced by the organization.

What role does Emotional Intelligence play?

In the present date, companies are known to focus their training programs on hard skills and the assessment of personality traits had taken a backseat. Competencies like stress management, assertiveness skills, empathy, and political/social acumen were never kept in contention. In reality, these are critical factors on which the success ratio depends upon and have a direct impact on the turnover and public perception. Successful organizations are those that demonstrate resilience in the time of market adversities. They train employees to embrace success and failure with equal vigour, while moving on to the next challenge. In their journey, their technical expertise and intelligence are finely honed and tested on an equal scale.

However, resilience depends on their ability to be self aware, reflective, manage their own emotions as well as those of others. The capacity to be aware , control and express one’s emotion , understanding the ramifications of expressing (or not expressing) emotion in a particular way, sharing emotions in an professional context, managing interpersonal relations “empathetically” are all becoming essential to synergize an optimal performance as a part of the organization.

As against an employee who works only on the basis of expertise, members who shows understanding of emotions and acts with empathy attracts the confidence of people as they are inspired, feel trust, and are encouraged to look past difficult situations and come back on-track. This leads to not only high engagement level within co-workers but eventually, greater satisfaction to customers and external stakeholders. Empathetically empowered employees form a recognizable place amongst consumer’s mental frame, enhancing customer experience while adding recall value- the pillars of a valuable brand.

Conclusion

The challenge lies in involving ethics and emotional intelligence into a cohesive force in bringing the organization together in shared learning, shared experiences and therefore, shared meaning of these core concepts. The facilitation organization learning while establishing a shared meaning, which is then embedded into organizational expectation, is instrumental to a prolific growth- both exponential and brand wise.

This article has been contributed by Ms Sudeshna Basu Roy, CEO & Co-Founder, Marg