Let’s be honest for a second. I used to feel that emotional intelligence was one of the buzzwords which sounded good in my head but I really didn’t know the depth of this term at all. Somewhere between the pressure, people and the chaos, I realised that Emotional intelligence is not just nice to have, it is a lowkey superpower and that’s everything. For those who still don’t know the complete meaning of this term. Let me explain it to you all:

Emotional intelligence is basically the skill of not being a robot. It’s the invisible stuff which makes work suck a little less. It’s when people care about others and not just what they bring on the work table. It is sort of an emotional Wi-Fi. Some are connected and some are still buffering and some might need a reboot. But when they are plugged in with EQ, the work starts to get better and so do they.

Who is it for?

Simple! It is for everyone. Not just for managers to care but for each and every person. It can be for the intern who is figuring out how to unmute in a meeting, for a developer who is knee deep in flows or a founder who seems fine but might be going through a rough time. Because work isn’t just work. People bring their energies at work too. Some days they bring focus and someday they bring brain fog, FOMO or imposter syndrome too. There comes the need for emotional intelligence. It helps us show up for each other especially on the messy days.

What does it look like?

It should not always be profound or life changing. Most of the time, it is work done quietly. It can be a teammate saying “I’ve got you” when someone is overwhelmed or someone giving space to vent it all out. Small stuff, isn’t it? But it’s not. It is bigger than it seems.

What's it like at MIDCAI?

Honestly, nothing is perfect! We are not all monks who just sense things immediately and solve it or make someone feel better instantly. Chaos levels are real. But EQ is one common thread which holds all of us together. It’s a culture where you say “ Hey, I am not feeling good today,” and not feeling shy to say it. The way we listen, support and even disagree with others, shapes the culture we’re building each day.

And the truth is people always remember how we make them feel. They will always remember the way we stay calm when going through a crisis. They will always remember the way we are kind and honest to them. This is Emotional Intelligence. And it sticks.

Finally, we are not going to get it right every time. Yet, if we can be more vigilant, aware and especially be real with each other, we can build something better than just a company. And, that is a real win! We all still are figuring it out and growing into it.