Employers should foster graduates' emotional intelligence

Managing mental wellbeing and coping with complex challenges at work are both vital for graduates in their first job - which is why employers should prioritise the emotional intelligence of new recruits, explains FutureLearn's Catalina Schveninger

Most of us still remember our first paid job after university. The world of work couldn't be more different from college life: no more straight talking, less camaraderie, the lack of clear guidance and time off to properly research a subject. Transitioning from higher education to the world of work can be difficult at the best of times, and for many it has become even more challenging in the wake of the pandemic.

In a recent piece of research from Young Minds, 80% of respondents agreed that the coronavirus pandemic had made their mental health worse and 41% said it had made their mental health 'much worse'. This was often related to increased feelings of anxiety, isolation, a loss of coping mechanisms or a loss of motivation. This is where emotional intelligence is particularly important.

Having an understanding of the core principles of emotional intelligence (EI) can help new graduate hires to manage their mental wellbeing and handle difficult and complex situations at work.1 Author and entrepreneur Darius Foroux states that emotional intelligence is an awareness of your emotions and those of others, as well as the ability to manage and use those emotions to make decisions and get things done.

It is important therefore for employers to examine how they can foster emotional intelligence among new graduate hires and in doing so support graduate wellbeing and resilience.

Soft skills for navigating stressful situations

Dr Gail Steptoe-Warren, a principal psychology lecturer at Coventry University, points out that in the workplace 'individuals are not judged on how intelligent they are, but on how they perform in their job. For example, how they deal with clients, how they manage others, how they work as a team, and how they deal with stressful situations.'

However, university is often a largely knowledge-focused learning experience which is probably why so many new graduates find that they lack the necessary soft skills to navigate the workplace. Soft skills such as emotional intelligence are of vital importance for career success, and the 2019 Global Skills Shortage Report, which looked at widening skills gaps, identified 'communication' and 'ability to deal with complexity' - components that contribute to greater emotional intelligence - as two of the top missing skills at work.

To address these skills gaps employers need to invest in skills development programmes from the start of the graduate hire journey. While the principle of 'sink or swim' might work better in more normal circumstances, supporting graduates with learning these skills is particularly important during the current climate, as most are working remotely and so are less able to pick up these skills naturally through osmosis and watching others.

There is no need for organisations to create this kind of content in-house as organisations such as the Institute of Coding (IoC) are leading the way by not only providing free digital skills courses, but courses that also cover soft skills such as Wellbeing and Resilience at Work.

Leading with empathy helps build EI

Another key factor that can help graduates develop emotional intelligence and maintain a sense of wellbeing is the quality of the coaching and support they get from line managers. Managers need to listen and allow space for reflection and ask 'how are you?' with intent. They should encourage graduates to reflect on how they function in different high-pressure situations, as well as try to help them understand how they can best manage their emotions and the emotions of their colleagues. Having an open pathway for frank, open and confidential conversations about this aspect of the workplace is important.

The role of a healthy company culture

Workplace culture also plays an important role in the wellbeing of graduate hires. Particularly during this universally difficult and strange time, it is important to cultivate an environment where the personal lives and at-home difficulties of employees are acknowledged and a good work/ life balance is encouraged.

For many companies, COVID-19 has highlighted the need for an improved mental health offering. At FutureLearn, we decided to offer a bundle of benefits, as one size doesn't fit all. Employees can take 'duvet days' when they are feeling overwhelmed, enjoy free subscriptions to the Calm meditation app and we have provided a subsidised healthcare plan that offers mental health support, including counselling.

As highlighted in a course we developed with Coventry University on Emotional Intelligence at Work, poor emotional intelligence at work can result in a spike in absenteeism, lower engagement and increased staff turnover. It is important therefore that employers embrace the importance of emotional intelligence at work in these times, not just for young professionals and graduates, but for everyone in the workplace.

Notes

1. 2019 Global Skills Shortage Report, SHRM, 2019.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Prospects/Jisc

Written by

Catalina Schveninger

Chief people officer

FutureLearn