Emotional Problem Solving

Emotional Problem Solving is understanding a problem and its possible causes while taking emotional components into consideration, then generating the best possible solutions. And so few people do this well.

Since people and their emotions are inherent in any problem, the failure to effectively manage them — in self and others — is unproductive. For example, feeling paralyzed by fear or overwhelmed by possible negative outcomes can derail decisions. Recognizing the situations in your life, or in the lives of those important to you, that cause emotional distress, empowers you to proactively plan to avoid problems or to deal effectively with those that do happen. Elegant solutions to challenges are elegant because they go the extra step to incorporate emotions to solve problems.

Action learning tips and learning assignments on the job are a click away at EQDashboard.com.

If any of the following behaviors are true of you or your work associates, solutions for improving this EQ competency are at EQDashboard.com:

• Gets paralyzed emotionally by problems
• Fails to see that many problems are a result of negative emotions or -irrational thinking
• Blames others for problems
• Fails to consider the impact on people and relationships when developing solutions to issues; overly analytical

  You might also consider (a sampling of suggestions from www.EQDdashboard.com):

  Gordon, Thomas. Leadership Effectiveness Training: Proven Skills for Leading Today’s Business Into Tomorrow. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1977, 2001. (Look for the other books in the Effectiveness/Gordon model, such as Teacher and Parent Effectiveness Training.)

  Welch, David A. Decisions, Decisions: The Art of Effective Decision Making. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2001.