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When there’s a vacant position in your company, you may feel pressure to fill it. Having a fully functioning team sounds important on paper but filling the position with the wrong person can lead to a disaster. As you filter through resumes, conduct countless interviews, and search for the right person for the job, you’ll find that EI (emotional intelligence) is more beneficial than IQ. Recruiting requires a strong understanding of emotions–both in yourself and job candidates. As well as empathy and discretion. Because emotional intelligence cannot be learned through book study, it is a valuable skill set. Below, we’ll discuss why EI is necessary when it comes time to recruit someone for a vacant position in your organization.

Find Common Ground

Establishing a connection between you and the candidate through conversation is essential to an effective interview. Establishing common ground sets the candidate at ease. This encourages them to answer questions honestly and allows you to see them as they truly are, not the facade they are presenting. If you are a good listener, you’ll be able to pinpoint the skills, passions, and interests of the candidate to “sell” a position that appeals to the candidate.

Know Yourself

Emotionally intelligent people are also self-aware. You are aware of your strengths and weaknesses and play to your strengths for your own success and the company. However, awareness of your weaknesses does not mean you avoid certain situations. It prompts you toward self-development. Knowing yourself also increases your ability to have a firm sense of responsibility. You take responsibility for your actions and have a clear picture of what’s expected of you.

Practice Empathy and Ethics

While conducting negotiations, recruiters need to find a compromise that is beneficial to both the candidate and the company ethically. Understanding the point of view of the candidate will help them see that you are on their side, working out a compromise they can accept. Expressing empathy not only builds trust between you and the candidate but also helps you communicate their opinion to others involved in the negotiation.

Exercise Self-Control

Emotionally intelligent people are not only aware of their emotions, but they are also skilled at controlling their emotions. When you work with people, you can guarantee at some point people will frustrate or disappoint you. It’s important to harness your emotions from getting the best of you, causing you to say or do something you will later regret. But remember, controlling your emotions doesn’t mean suppressing them. It means you are aware of them and can express them in the right setting in front of the right person.

Be Present Minded

Good problem solvers are often present minded. Rather than focusing on what happened in the past, they see what issue is in front of them and begin taking action to solve the problem. When you’re present minded, you not only see ways you can positively affect change, but work to find solutions rather than grumble about decisions that are beyond your control.

Our programs at Trinity Training & Development help your organization’s leadership learn how to implement emotional intelligence to increase team effectiveness and communication. Learn how to foster a culture of empathy and problem-solving to reduce conflict and increase productivity. To learn more, contact us at Trinity Training Development today.