Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork w/ Emotionally Unintelligent Teammates
by Kate Nasser | 4 Comments »
Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork: 10 Ways to Work With Immature Teammates
Is it possible work well with immature teammates when you have developed your emotional intelligence? Yes.
It may not be as enjoyable as working with emotionally intelligent teammates. However, it’s very possible!
10 Steps for Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork w/ Less Intelligent Teammates
Most everyone agrees that emotionally intelligent teammates produce better than immature staff who squabble, waffle, and veer off course. It’s also true that teams often have some less emotionally unintelligent team members.
As the goals and deadlines loom, your emotional intelligence can help everyone reach success.
- Spot emotionally unintelligent teammates early on. Use your emotional intelligence to spot annoying behavior for what it is. With your positive energy, you will inspire productive teamwork instead of being trapped in annoyance.
- Step forward with calm confidence. With your calm confidence, you can accomplish much with immature teammates. They will be drawn to you as a pillar of support.
- Influence everyone with your emotionally intelligent humility. Respond to overactive egos with the strength of humility. It flows with quiet power and smooths resistance. It cuts through immature egos without threatening them. Humility builds trust through its selfless giving. With that influence, you and the team can accomplish anything.
- Listen beyond your boundaries. Go beyond your reactions to teammates’ immaturity and listen to draw people magically together. Listening builds understanding. It reduces gaps to accomplish the impossible.
- Tune into human needs. Be aware of what immature teammates need to feel secure. Offer empathy, validation, and support. You free them from the emotional needs that trap them and then they contribute to the team. This is not the same thing as fake schmoozing. When your heart cares, your behavior is authentic.
- Let your leadership shine. As odd as it sounds, your immature teammates give you many chances to lead. Great leaders don’t drown around people who have less ability. They lead them. Do it happily.
- Be realistic. Expect the immaturity and celebrate the growth. Once you spot teammates’ weaknesses, don’t waste your time hoping they will change immediately. Live life as it is not as you think it should be. As they evolve, celebrate their growth.
- Be very grateful for your emotional intelligence. It gives you much success and happiness. When you meet immature teammates, be grateful for the maturity you’ve developed. Gratitude keeps your emotional intelligence alive and active. Share your gift!
- Set limits intelligently. For example, if a teammate’s immaturity shows you great disrespect, ask for basic human respect: “I would like simple respect. I give it to you and I would like it in return.” Respect is the basis for trust and teamwork. Bring the issue to the table. They may get defensive at first. Eventually, they will see the fairness in it and respond appropriately. By communicating your needs, you give them a chance to evolve.
- Buoy yourself. Associate with other emotionally intelligent people. Working with immature teammates can be taxing. Recharge your batteries, inside and outside of work, with others who are as capable as you. Refueling keeps everyone evolving, energized, and working at peak performance.
Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork – Get Started
Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork – Use Great People Skills
Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork – Lead & Grow
Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork – Tap Into Gratitude
Emotionally Intelligent Teamwork – Take Care of Yourself
From my professional experience to your success,
Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™
Related Posts:
5 Steps to Develop Emotional Intelligence
Positive Attitudes for Dealing With Toxic Leaders
©2014-2019 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. I appreciate your sharing the link to this post on your social streams. However, if you want to re-post or republish the content of this post, please email info@katenasser.com for permission and guidelines. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.
Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™, delivers coaching, consulting, training, and keynotes on leading change, employee engagement, teamwork, and delivering the ultimate customer service. She turns interaction obstacles into interpersonal success. See this site for workshop outlines, keynote footage, and customer results.
Get more inspiration and actionable tips for high engagement results!
Buy Kate Nasser’s new book Leading Morale (Amazon.com).
Excellent! The one that resonated with me most is to tap into their human side. When the heart cares…
I learned many years ago that any behavior, hard or soft, when done not only with a heart that cares but also one that views us as equals… equally human, will have the greatest impact. Nobody is perfect but we all want to be seen and make a difference. Schmoozing feels phony, but honestly telling someone that you need them and what they can and do contribute will go a very long way.
Thanks, Kate!
So very true Alli — the human connection can make a magical difference.
I am so honored by your comment and time.
Warmest wishes,
Kate
Excellent read and I too agree with the comments. You have to meet people where they are, one size does not fit all is what I’ve learned over the years. Relationships in general are give and take and everyone wants to feel they make a difference so accentuate the strengths more so than the weaknesses. In some instances I think the immaturity is away to mask fear low self image.
Hi Sharon,
Thank you so much. I am glad you found this post worthy of your attention and comment. I love your “relationships are give and take”.
I also agree that fear and low self-image often appear as immature behaviors.
Warmest regards and I hope you will visit this blog often,
Kate