Emotional Intelligence: Key to any Successful Midwifery Practice

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the capability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one’s goal(s). Although the term first appeared in a 1964 paper by Michael Beldoch, it gained popularity in the 1995 book by that title, written by author and science journalist Daniel Goleman. Since this time, EI, and Goleman’s 1995 analysis, have been criticized within the scientific community, despite prolific reports of its usefulness in the popular press.

Empathy is typically associated with EI, because it relates to an individual connecting their personal experiences with those of others. Midwives are great at empathy, we just need to use it with employees and not just our customers. That was one thing I wasn’t good at for a long time. I supported women in creating my birth center practice, but didn’t support my women employees nearly as well as the clients.

Studies have shown that people with high EI have greater mental health, job performance, and leadership skills. For example, Goleman indicated that EI accounted for 67% of the abilities deemed necessary for superior performance in leaders, and mattered twice as much as technical expertise or IQ. Other research finds that the effect of EI on leadership and managerial performance is non-significant when ability and personality are controlled for, and that general intelligence correlates very closely with leadership. Markers of EI and methods of developing it have become more widely coveted in the past decade. In addition, studies have begun to provide evidence to help characterize the neural mechanisms of emotional intelligence.

There are some tests developed and easily available that can measure EQ Emotional Intelligence. Having higher EQ Emotional Intelligence is important for effective leadership and executives, management and supervisory staff, customer service, sales and marketing staff, HR Human. Resources staff and others in businesses of all sizes and in all markets and industries. Higher EQ Emotional Intelligence helps individuals to communicate better, promote team effort and problem solve with individuals when needed and promote team effort.

It also helps to foster and grow good customer relationships. I personally remember early in my career, knowing of senior management and leadership lacking Emotional Intelligence. They struggled having good professional relationships with staff, employees and customers. Their communication skills were not adequate and they could not understand others’ feelings, thinking and personal concerns. They were not liked by others and others disliked working with them. So many struggles happened daily with many people having poor feelings to each other. This caused so many issues and problems. There was a lack of team effort and business progress was hindered. That is the last thing you want for your successful midwifery practice. Keep employees happy and long term committed to your mission.

Emotional Intelligence is now commonly viewed as important for businesses to survive and grow. Some studies indicated that about 60% of the larger global companies have Emotional Intelligence in their employment pre-screening tests and process. Studies indicate that those individuals struggling in business; owner, management or staff, employee tend to score low in Emotional Intelligence and for the reverse, individuals doing well and more successful in business tend to score high in Emotional Intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence is a fundamental ability for healthy and effective interpersonal relationships and interpersonal communications. Research and studies indicate that Emotional Intelligence is a learned behavior and ability early in life and NOT GENETIC. It is important for midwives to study this subject and read the many articles on the internet, numerous books, business journals and magazines that are now available on the subject of Emotional Intelligence. This will make you conversational and aware but not a professional that can be effective and produce desired positive results in business: Similar to anyone reading a few medical and health books and thinking they can be as knowledgeable as trained medical doctors and medical specialists. Make time to learn about business and personal development, it will pay off greatly in the long run in your midwife business.