Is there a place in the skilled trades for emotional intelligence?

If you’re like many you read the title and thought, “what in the world is emotional intelligence?”

I came across the term quite a while back but left it unresearched. I thought it was a new age concept touted by motivational coaches on various platforms, including LinkedIn. There are so many I didn’t give it much stock.

Nothing ventured is nothing gained, though. I decided to read an article I came across about emotional intelligence and found it interesting. My mind began to reflect on the relationship (or lack thereof) of emotional intelligence and those in the skilled trades. If you have been in the game for any amount of time I’m willing to bet you get a laugh when you put emotional intelligence and skilled tradesmen in the same sentence; I know I do.

There are a lot of prideful guys in the trades and I’ve seen a myriad of emotions flare up over the years: anger, shouting, fear, anxiety, enough laughter for days – and many more. Can you really call that intelligence, though?

Alright, alright. Now that I’ve poked fun at the name ’emotional intelligence,’ what exactly is it and what is it’s significance in the skilled trades (if any)?

First, as always, I’d like to start with an applicable definition and go from there.

Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence this way: “the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.”

Psychology Today continues: “it is generally said to include at least three skills: emotional awareness, or the ability to identify and name one’s own emotions; the ability to harness those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions…”

Now that we have a definition and some clarification to go on, let’s cross examine whether emotional intelligence plays a part in the future of the skilled trades or not.

How many guys in the trades do you know who can’t (or won’t) control their emotions? I know plenty and most of the skilled tradesmen I know are like that. How about the ones who pop off at the slightest little thing, roaring at those around them for mistakes made? Or how about this one: the guy who has “done it this way for over 30 years and it’s my way or the highway?”

I have heard all of those and more and chances are you have too. Those individuals exhibit little to no emotional intelligence and coupled with growing older and getting set in their ways they likely never will. They don’t have any intention of adapting or changing for really any reason. Change comes as an absolute necessity – if it comes at all.

I mean, how can they have a grasp on their emotions? They came up during a time with absolutely no understanding of emotional intelligence – or did they?

I have been thinking about how emotional intelligence is applicable to the skilled trades in the past and I’ve seen evidence of its use for a long time now.

I’ve run work for many years and if given the choice between someone with great skill with a poor attitude and a decent hand who has a great attitude I’ll pick the one with the great attitude every time. I mean EVERYTIME. The old saying, “one bad apple ruins the bunch” certainly is at work here. I don’t want a morale buster if possible.

You see what I’m doing? I’m choosing not just based on skill level but also on emotional intelligence. The person with the great attitude has more control over their emotions and displays a higher level of emotional intelligence than the one with greater skill and low emotional intelligence.

That choice is made daily all over the place and has been made for as long as the trades have existed. No one I know wants a sourpuss on the job; they have an uncanny ability to bring morale to all time lows. This can cause delays, trouble with scheduling, or even bring about the old saying: “the beatings will continue until morale improves.”

That’s not the only time emotional intelligence is present and accounted for, though. The above is merely the beginning. Below are some examples of emotional intelligence and how it WILL grow in use in the skilled trades in the future.

Women on the job

A growing number of women on the job brings complications which are unchartered territory in previous generations. Women are different than men in many ways and its not a stretch to say it’s a bumpy road to cohesiveness. After all, in many of the skilled trades it has been male dominated for as long as they have existed.

I know some guys who don’t think it’s a good idea for women to be working in their trade. Their reasons are many and while I can’t possibly address all of them I think a few could be discussed.

Let’s start out with what most people automatically go to: sexism. Yes, there are guys who display this very attitude. I for one have never seen guys do the popularized cat call Hollywood likes to project upon tradesmen but I have heard some say they don’t like it (women on the jobsite, that is).

Most men, though, don’t think that way. I suspect some men like to have a female to look at periodically. I bet others like the opportunity to flirt. It wouldn’t surprise me to discover some guys want to have fun at the expense of women – because the trades can be a physical place. And some just don’t care. Their only question: can she do the work?

This is where the rubber meets the road for most men. IF she can do the work AND guys don’t have to walk on eggshells around her then she will earn respect.

There are some trades which seem to have less women in them than others. I have seen several women performing the tasks of inside machinists compared to few in ironwork or brick laying. Just an observation here, but the often climitized inside machinist profession is no where near as physical as being an ironworker or brick layer. There seems to be a correlation here and for obvious reasons: women, as a whole, aren’t as physically strong as men and some trades are more physically demanding. It’s no surprise, really, when those professions have fewer women in them.

No matter, though. Women do in fact enter the skilled trades, albeit at different levels depending on the trade. That just means there are differing levels of emotional intelligence being utilized on the job.

Women are, as a whole, more emotional than men also. Am I broadbrushing? Yes, but it’s true overall. This distinctive gives them a slight advantage when dealing with emotional intelligence. That’s only half of the equation, however. Since work in the skilled trades often is physically demanding, it is men who have the distinct advantage.

With women entering the skilled trades, men are presented with opportunities to exercise emotional intelligence in greater, more dynamic ways. Women typically aren’t going to respond in exactly the same way men do to situations and that’s to be expected.

Overall, emotional intelligence very much has a seat at the skilled trades table with an increasing number of women joining the ranks. But women aren’t the only reason why emotional intelligence is on the rise in skilled trades.

Different generations

I believe this reason is more prevalent for emotional intelligence use than women on the job. The reason: women are, in many trades, represented by few numbers whereas the generational difference is widespread and entrenched in everything.

Experienced guys in the trades are having to deal with a plethora of issues as a result. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard older guys complain about “this younger generation and how they don’t want to work.” Seriously, I can’t underscore just how many complaints I’ve heard over the years. From my perspective there’s merit to their complaint but rarely do we stop to figure out why that seems to be the case.

Whether or not we ever figure it out is one thing; it’s another altogether dealing with the ramifications of said disconnect. At the core that seems to be what’s going on; the different generations, having experienced different conditions growing up are influenced by those conditions and a huge disconnect takes place.

That’s not to say the lack of wanting to work isn’t a real problem and merely some disconnect; it’s a real and substantive one. But how we deal with it is the topic at hand. Merely yelling at the people to do what we want them to do doesn’t work. Just like some doctors have different bed side manners than others so to do different people deal with arising issues in separate ways.

With just the two issues above there is ample evidence of a growing need for emotional intelligence to be exercised more fluently. The complexity doesn’t just exist from the task at hand anymore – it’s also from within the ranks in the gang. This is a monumental challenge for those with years of experience, those just coming in the trades, and everyone inbetween. Finding the right balance changes with each job, bringing new personalities and new tasks to complete.

Is it any wonder, then, employers are looking at not just your skill level but also your emotional intelligence? Some say your EI/EQ (emotional intelligence or emotional quotient; frequently interchanged) is more important than your IQ or skill set. I can’t get on that band wagon yet; skill set is essential to job completion where as emotional intelligence is not. Its importance may be growing but as far as I’m concerned it’ll never surpass skill set. Skills erect bridges, set and align motors, pipe in plumbing and sprinkler systems, brick buildings, roof them, and much, much more. Emotional intelligence? Its importance is growing, its necessity increasing but no way is it on par with skill in your trade.

That said, the use of emotional intelligence has grown significantly over the past two decades and will increase with more women on the job and the generational differences so rampant.

There is one more item I’d like to bring up before I finish this post, though, and I think its importance is often overlooked.

Emotional intelligence and supervision

While it hasn’t been stated specifically, the above has a guys in the gang point to it. There is room for it to be used for foremen and above but those positions deserve further explanation and analysis.

Emotional intelligence plays a bigger part for supervision, namely the foreman, general foreman, superintendent, and above. The further you move up the more your emotional intelligence comes into play.

Ask yourself:

Can you recognize your emotions throughout the day? Are you aware of their impact on your work and others? Are you able to harness those emotions and make them work for you as opposed to being controlled by them? Can you recognize emotional intelligence in others? Can you harness the emotional intelligence of others for success? Are you able to diffuse difficult situations calmly? How do you handle personality conflicts?

These capabilities and more are at the heart of a successful person who displays high levels of emotional intelligence. They play a bigger role and affect far more than just the task at hand. They can affect whole crews, jobsite, projects, and bottom lines in the end.

It is also this role where emotional intelligence can be weighed against skill level in the trade. Personally, I prefer to work for someone who isn’t a complicated narcissist; I’d much rather work for a person focused on getting the job done while balancing things with a great attitude. They may be few and far between but all that means is there is room for others to join the ranks. Improving yourself is key here.

Because there are few people who exhibit great emotional intelligence in high supervising roles the industry has been looking outside for people to fill those roles. This includes women and younger people who, in many cases, lack the basic skill set to work on the job yet they can and more frequently do become supervision.

There are few things more frustrating than working for someone who doesn’t have the trade skill and experience but is in charge. I’ve been there, too. It is especially infuriating when they are jerks. Personality conflicts arise as a natural response and disrupt the jobsite.

In the above circumstances, sometimes there is nothing you can do but bear it or move on. For some, it could be just the kick in the rear they needed to make a change. Others may lament they have to change and endure. Whatever the reason which drives them, they decide accordingly.

There is another option, however; you can improve yourself. It may sound like a cliché but it is true. Ask yourself the above questions and give an honest assessment. Ask someone you trust to evaluate you and don’t get angry when they give you the truth. Recognize your flaws and own them. Work to correct your shortcomings and aim to better yourself in every area. You can NEVER run out of things to improve on.

That’s not a guarantee for success on the job but it most certainly is a start. The industry is changing, of that there is no doubt. Display a willingness to adjust and adapt accordingly. Look for opportunities and pursue personal excellence. Growth can hurt but be incredibly rewarding.

Yes, there is a place in the skilled trades for emotional intelligence. Now get after it.