Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand emotions and motivations in yourself and others. Understanding how to recognize the emotions of others in different situations is a big communication tool for the manager. It is not unusual for people to fail to express what they are feeling verbally and thus leave the listener with an impression that may be false. Understanding how to read body language or facial expressions affords the manager additional knowledge as to the speakers' true stance. It helps to communicate with meaning to the words we choose. Managers that have a good understanding of EI find it especially useful in approaching conflict decision-making and coaching employees.

In your initial post focus on:

• What is EI and how can managers benefit from understanding EI?
• What role does "Active Listening" play in communication?
• How does the way you handle communication impact decision-making and efficiency in the workplace?