Two Steps to Creating a Workplace with Fully Engaged People

1. Make room for the whole heart of a person

At our recent EQ Ministry Equip training on May 31, 2018, Dr. Parolini taught organizations, churches and business leaders the importance of recognizing that each employee brings their whole heart into the workplace.

[pullquote]If they check a part of themselves at the door, they don’t fully engage in the workplace[/pullquote]

In order for people to bring their full set of skills, gifts and passions into the workplace, employers need to create a safe place for staff to be who they are.

“We’ve been taught to check our emotions at the door, and come into work to do our business. That is not happening. People don’t check their emotions. If they check a part of themselves at the door, they don’t fully engage in the workplace,” said Dr. Jeanine Parolini, teaching partner at Bethel University.

A key concept of Dr. Jeanine Parolini’s is that of Heart Intelligence: recognizing that our whole self is comprised of our mind, emotions, will and personality. She believes employers need to accept that employees won’t leave any of these four components at home, so our work environments need to be safe places for people to show up fully.

“Let’s let them bring their emotions and their whole self into the door, certainly it’s got to be managed, but if we can be a safe place, they are going to put their whole selves to work for us,” said Parolini.

2. Lead with trust

Trust is believing someone will do what they say they will do.

[pullquote]Be a leader that follows through, and establishes trust…[/pullquote]

In the workplace that means knowing your leaders are committed to the cause and committed to its employees. It’s also knowing people care about us.

“If someone only talks about themselves, or cares about their own agenda, we are never going to trust them. Be a leader that really does care about other people, their agenda, and what’s important to them. Be a leader that follows through, and establishes trust as you lead a team,” said Dr. Parolini.

 

What Our Participants are Saying:

[pullquote]…my heart intelligence is my responsibility to develop[/pullquote]

“I learned that my heart intelligence is my responsibility to develop, and the biggest influence I have when leading others,” said one EQ participant.

Rachel is a leader in the business world, and attended this training to develop her emotional intelligence. But she left encouraged as a mother to son with special needs. “My child struggles with emotional intelligence, but as a Christian he can be heart intelligent – he has Christ and the Spirit of God in him, and he can have heart intelligence, even if it’s not the molded to the world’s definition of emotional intelligence,” said Rachel.

[pullquote]I appreciated the Biblical focus on relating to the whole person…[/pullquote]

“I appreciated the Biblical focus on relating to the whole person, while integrating their body, soul and spirit,” said another participant.

 

Other Emotional Intelligence Resources:

Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman

Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves

The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzero

Coaches Guide to Emotional Intelligence by James Bradford Terrell and Marcia Hughes

Transformational Servant Leadership by Jeanine Parolini

The Portable Seminary by David Horton

Chapter titled Effective Christian Ministry Begins with Godly Self-Leadership by Jeanine Parolini

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