Second Step in Developing Emotional Intelligence: Self-Management
To be a successful manager, you need to have a good understanding of emotional intelligence, how well developed your own EI, is and how to use it to achieve your objectives. I previously discussed self-awareness is the first step in developing emotional intelligence. The second step in developing emotional intelligence is self-management.
What is self-management?
Self-management is our ability to manage our actions, behaviors, thoughts, and emotions productively. The self-management facet of emotional intelligence builds based on self-awareness and is simply the ability to control your emotions so that they don’t control you.
Self-management involves using what you know about your emotions to manage them in such a way as to generate positive interactions with others and motivate yourself in all situations. People with strong self-management skills know what to do and how to act in different situations.
Self-management skills extend beyond the workplace into personal life. Self-management means you understand your responsibility in different aspects of your life, and you do what you need to fulfill that responsibility. The very act of acknowledging the fact that you are feeling a negative emotion goes a long way to preventing you from losing control of your behavior.
The role of self-management in the workplace
According to Indeed, self-management skills “allow you to maximize your productivity, improve your workplace performance and efficiently achieve professional goals.”
Self-management is an essential part of a functional organization and a skill for everyone, not just leaders in positions of power. In “12 Rules for Self-Management,” Rosa Say wrote, “Management is not just for managers, just as leadership is not only for leaders. We all manage, and we all lead.” Say argues an organization where “everyone lives and works by self-managing” is a “business destined for greatness.”
The role of leaders and managers is to empower team members across their organization to self-manage. Effective self-management allows employees to make good decisions by being more innovative and resourceful. When individual team members understand their responsibilities and goals, they can make better decisions that positively impact the rest of the team and organization.
How to improve self-management skills
Someone with poor self-management may stay up late when they need to wake up early, procrastinate when they have a deadline, and become irritated when a project doesn’t go their way. However, you don’t need to meet any warning signs to decide if you need to improve your self-management. Like all other aspects of emotional intelligence, self-management skills can be improved, refined, and mastered.
Five ways to improve your self-management skills
- Know your values. When you identify your values and make choices that align with them, it’s easier to make decisions. Speak up for what you believe in and be willing to stand up for it. When your values are clear and defined, it helps others understand you and how you behave.
- Build trust. Start to build trust with others by being honest and keeping your promises. Building trust will help others believe what you say and confide in you. Be willing to trust others, and they will return the favor.
- Accept accountability. As your responsibilities increase, your level of accountability increases as well. When faced with negative results, don’t be a victim or a martyr. Instead, accept accountability and look towards the future with enthusiasm and newfound wisdom.
- Have a good work ethic. Having a good work ethic can be as simple as always being polite, professional, and on time. Lead by example and set the tone for all aspects of life by showing others you care.
- Take care of your body and mind. Eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, and staying active are the foundation of self-care. My integrative health and wellness program is designed to evaluate all factors that influence health, wellness, and disease processes by focusing on the body, mind, spirit, and community.
Improve your self-management skills with an experienced expert
Self-management is an essential skill in our personal and professional lives that can be continuously refined and improved. Together we can determine in what ways you excel at self-management and where you might need to improve. Contact me to learn how I can help you improve your self-management skills.
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