Case Study 2: Workplace Communication File
1. Separating our personal and professional lives is increasingly difficult, especially if you are a salaried employee. Many organizations provide employees with cell phones and laptops to work while traveling and work from home. Discuss your view when it comes to working after hours. Do you routinely send and respond to after-hours emails? Are you able to turn work off after hours like some of the companies in the article?
The increasing need to achieve higher success in organizations is associated with various factors. These include promoting the employees to keep engaged in work matters even after the working hours. While this may seem like a norm in modern society, I believe that it takes a toll on the physical and psychological health of the employees. As such, its setbacks outpace the benefits and hence should not be encouraged in the workplaces. Firstly, the norm of working after hours can negatively affect an individual’s mental health (Oaxaca, 2020). The mind gets tired, and occupying it without allowing time to refresh is dangerous. People are social beings and hence need them to have quality time to spend with their friends and relatives in an ‘outside of work environment. In any case, most people feel the pressure to engage in overtime, not because they have the capability or are in the position, but simply because their bosses demand them to work overtime (Oaxaca, 2020). Such imposes stress due to additional work demands leading to insomnia, overeating, and depression, among other mental health concerns.
Further, physical health can be challenged by overworking. Sedentary kind of work is harmful to the heart and having to work for extra hours is yet too dangerous. Besides, lengthening the working hours on physical jobs initiates fatigue and overworked muscles leading to injury and accidents. Generally, I denounce the essence of working after hours due to the negative impacts on an individual (Oaxaca, 2020). Although the consequences of working after hours are clear, I sometimes respond to emails. However, this depends on the urgency of the matters involved, although I highly disregard these practices. In the error of laptops and smartphones, it is pretty impossible to turn work off after hours because some emails and work updates will pop up on the screen even when one is outside the work environment. Notably, one is easily tempted to open a WhatsApp message or email related to work even at odd hours, and this takes the mind back to the work projects.
2. Burnout is leading to serious medical conditions. Individuals who cannot manage stressful jobs coupled with stress in their personal lives suffer from serious illnesses like high blood pressure, anxiety, and insomnia. Discuss at least two (2) strategies that you would recommend to your employees to improve their work-life balance. Consider ways in which you would encourage them to disconnect.
Work-life balance is essential to maintain healthy mental and physical health. However, while the employers alone may not provide an entire work-life balance, the employees have an obligation to change their attitudes towards home and work life. An excellent strategy to improve work-life balance is finding a job that one loves and is passionate about (Abioro et al., 2018). Work is an expected societal norm; however, individuals should choose a career that they have interest in and carry out the duties without straining. If one takes a career that they do not like, it is probable that they will not enjoy and will struggle to achieve the goals. As such, the job should be exciting and match one’s passion not to strain to attend to the activities involved. If one struggles to do a specific job, they may not achieve quality results, which may be stressful.
Besides, if one likes the job they do, they increase the capacity to achieve more results and achieve quality outcomes in a short time limit, hence leaving time for leisure. Therefore, I recommend that people be specific when looking for jobs to maintain mental health. Further, employees should embrace the practice of doing physical work-outs. While a more considerable percentage of the day is spent at work, employees must have a relatively fixed schedule to attend their gyms and engage in physical activities that refresh the minds (Abioro et al., 2018). It is easy to skip gym time to attend to a client. However, this may become a norm and eventually overlook the importance of work-outs. In this regard, the employees should regard this aspect the same way they do to their job assignments. In any case, a healthy mind-body is associated with a fresh mind, which provides quality outcomes.
3. Refer back to Chapter 7 of the textbook. In your own words, what is Emotional Intelligence (EI)? Select two (2) of Goleman’s major dimensions of EI and discuss why they are relevant in the workplace. Why do you think EI may be more important than IQ for an effective manager?
Emotional intelligence is a vital concept that is responsible for one’s happiness and success in life. It describes the ability to perceive positively, express, control, and manage personal emotions, overcome challenges, empathize with others, and communicate effectively. The ability to associate well with others and perceive ideas correctly describes emotional intelligence. Goleman regards emotional intelligence as a wide array of skills and competencies that drive leadership performance by outlining various constructs. These include self-awareness, motivation, self-regulation, empathy, and relationship management (Livesey, 2017). However, he emphasizes self-awareness and inspiration as the significant dimensions of EI. The EI requires one to effectively understand themselves and others to evaluate the relevant approaches to deal with people and situations. This dimension is vital in the workplace as it enables an individual to relate well with colleagues and adapt effectively to the immediate surroundings.
Goleman also regards empathy as an essential virtue that describes the ability to understand and share feelings. Empathy reflects respect for co-workers and indicates care for others, besides complying with the rules and regulations of the organization (Ugoani, 2015). Such increases cohesion, morale, and productivity through increased team spirit. While a high intelligence quotient plays a critical role in people’s lives, emotional intelligence is significantly more vital for an effective manager (Livesey, 2017). Emotional intelligence enables the leaders to impact the employees’ motivation by augmenting altruistic behavior and positive work attitudes. Resultantly, high productivity increased revenues, and quality outcomes are achieved.
References
Abioro, M. A., Oladejo, D. A., & Ashogbon, F. O. (2018). Work-Life Balance Practices and Employees Productivity in The Nigerian University System. Crawford Journal of Business & Social Sciences, 13(2), 49-59.
Oaxaca, R. L. S. (2020). The effect of overtime regulations on employment. IZA World of Labor.
Livesey, P. V. (2017). Goleman-Boyatzis model of emotional intelligence for dealing with problems in project management. Construction Economics and Building, 17(1), 20-45.
Ugoani, J., Amu, C., & Emenike, K. O. (2015). Dimensions of emotional intelligence and transformational leadership: A correlation analysis. Independent Journal of management & production (IJM&P) v, 6.