Even though emotional intelligence is a buzzword making rounds in self-help books and workplace trainings, there are still many questions, myths, and misconceptions about this notion and how to get the hang of it. While the concept might seem simple, its impact runs deep, especially in how teams collaborate, solve problems, and grow together.
In recent years, emotional intelligence has become a key focus for businesses worldwide. Companies are realizing that technical expertise alone isn’t enough. The ability to empathize, communicate, and adapt emotionally is just as vital. This focus has grown even stronger as businesses have noticed the negative impact of self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and predominantly online communication on the social skills of their team members. Organizations are now prioritizing EQ to rebuild meaningful connections and foster collaboration in a changing work environment.
At Rebbix, emotional intelligence is more than an idea — it’s woven into the way we work. To dive deeper into this, we sat down with our HR Team Lead to explore the essence of EQ, and how our team brings its principles to life in our day-to-day culture. Let’s start by discussing the concept of emotional intelligence and its components, followed by a brief Q&A session to highlight how this idea drives collaboration at Rebbix and helps us create a truly connected workplace.
The notion of emotional intelligence and the skills behind it
Emotional intelligence, often called EQ, is the ability to understand and manage emotions — both your own and those of others. It’s a skill set that shapes how we interact, make decisions, and navigate the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Unlike IQ, which measures cognitive abilities, EQ focuses on emotional and social competencies that can be developed and improved over time. It’s about being human, but better at it.
At its heart, EQ is made up of five core skills that work together to create a foundation for meaningful connections and effective communication. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Social skills
Good social skills are the glue that holds teams and relationships together. They enable us to build trust, resolve conflicts, and collaborate effectively. People with strong social skills know how to listen actively, adapt their communication style, and foster an environment where everyone feels heard. It’s not just about being friendly — it’s about knowing how to connect with others in a way that brings out the best in everyone.
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the starting point for mastering emotional intelligence. It’s the ability to recognize your emotions as they happen and understand how they affect your thoughts and actions. Those with high self-awareness are in tune with their strengths, weaknesses, and triggers. They’re less likely to react impulsively and more likely to respond thoughtfully.
Self-regulation
Whereas self-awareness helps you identify your emotions, self-regulation plays a vital part in managing them. This skill is about staying in control, even when things get tough. It’s not about suppressing emotions but coping with them in a productive way. Whether it’s staying calm during a heated discussion or resisting the urge to send that angry email, self-regulation is what keeps emotions from hijacking your decisions.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand their perspective. Being empathetic is more than just feeling sympathy; it’s about genuinely connecting with others on an emotional level. Empathy helps us navigate complex social dynamics and build trust. It’s the key to resolving conflicts, supporting colleagues, and creating a culture where everyone feels valued.
Motivation
Finally, there’s motivation — the internal drive to pursue goals with energy and persistence. People with high EQ don’t just chase rewards or recognition. They’re fueled by a deeper sense of purpose, seeing challenges as opportunities to grow and setbacks as temporary complications. Motivation driven by emotional intelligence not only keeps a person moving forward but also inspires those around them to do the same.
Interested to find out how to better yourself in these areas? Our HR Team Lead, who will give us personal insights in the Q&A session below, has recently shared her knowledge of EQ during our regular Rebbix Speaking Club. Follow the link to our LinkedIn post to access and save some simple and actionable tips on how to improve each of the five skills we discussed.
Practicing emotional intelligence as a tech company: a Q&A with our HR Team Lead
To get an expert view of emotional intelligence, we spoke with our HR Team Lead, Natalia Kavchak. In this brief Q&A session, she explains how the principles of EQ are incorporated into the very fabric of Rebbix culture.
How important are the principles of emotional intelligence for us, at Rebbix, and how are they integrated into our corporate culture?
Natalia: “At Rebbix, building leadership and management skills is of paramount importance. And emotional intelligence is one of the core elements required to be a great team leader. It’s a cornerstone for developing such competencies as effective communication, people management, risk management, conflict resolution, public speaking, and so on.”
Do emotional intelligence and social skills play a big role in recruiting a new team member at Rebbix?
Natalia: “Absolutely. A candidate’s emotional intelligence skills and work ethic are among the main criteria that we pay attention to during interviews. It helps us understand whether a person can be integrated into our team smoothly and what motivates them.”
If a candidate for a tech position has all the technical skills we’re looking for but lacks the EQ and soft skills that align with our corporate culture, does that mean we wouldn’t consider them?
Natalia: “Yes, that’s right. In this case, a person won’t become a part of Rebbix. People in our teams collaborate closely, so a high level of self-awareness and an understanding of one’s reactions, along with the ability to control them, are very important to us.”
So, when in doubt, is it always better to hire a person with better emotional intelligence?
Natalia: “In my experience, yes. A person with great EQ and social skills will have enough self-awareness to know where there’s a gap in tech skills and will do their best to learn more and find a way to bring some added value with an innovative approach and non-standard problem-solving. Based on what I’ve seen, such candidates always turn out to be good hires as they can adapt quickly and collaborate effectively, which significantly outweighs initial technical gaps.”
Which specific soft skills and personal qualities do we see as a strong fit for our culture?
Natalia: “First of all, interpersonal relations in our team are built on trust. We don’t support micromanagement or rigid control over our team members. That’s why a person needs to be highly motivated, trustworthy, and proactive, taking full responsibility for their work and willingly sharing results without needing constant reminders to complete tasks. Another essential aspect is that a person must be genuinely curious about their work, ready to dig deeper and seek non-standard solutions. Simply doing the bare minimum to check off items on a to-do list or giving up when common algorithms fail are red flags for us.”
How does a high level of emotional intelligence and social skills affect our relationships with clients?
Natalia: “At Rebbix, one of our core values is delivering quality and focusing on projects and tasks that bring real value. This means that when we see a client request something that might harm their product or won’t add practical value, we don’t simply execute without question. Instead, we use our empathy and strong communication skills to have an open and honest conversation. By knowing a project inside and out, deeply understanding a client’s needs, and relying on the extensive experience of our specialists, we ensure that clients feel heard while we advocate for what we believe is the best course of action. This balance of empathy and assertiveness builds trust and strengthens our relationships. It’s something our clients deeply value and frequently highlight in their feedback.”
And one last question. If you could advise our readers on how to start their journey toward better emotional intelligence, what would you suggest?
Natalia: “I’d say that the first step has to be recognizing what you’re good at, which social skills you’ve already developed, and use them as a starting point instead of focusing on some shortcomings. For example, a person may not be very good at storytelling, public speaking, or expressing themselves with words in general. But they may be a great listener. Then this person can concentrate on that, become an expert at listening, and use it as a foundation for improving some other social skills. This would be a far better approach than trying to master all skills at once, which can be overwhelming.”
Final thoughts
As we’ve seen, the principles of EQ go beyond personal development. They create the foundation for stronger teams, deeper client relationships, and a culture where empathy and understanding drive success. Whether you’re starting small by honing your listening skills or taking on the challenge of mastering self-regulation, each step brings you closer to unlocking the potential of emotional intelligence in your personal and professional life.
We hope our exploration of EQ and its impact on Rebbix as a tech company inspires you to take further steps toward understanding your own emotions and those of others and to apply these vital skills in your workplace for improved communication and collaboration.
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