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Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence as ” . . . the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.”
We talk about how a great candidate must have both hard and soft skills and possess high emotional intelligence, in particular. Unfortunately, we sometimes fail to hold ourselves to the same standard. As we rely more on data in the recruitment process, the value of recruiters hinges on their ability to leverage emotional intelligence to manage both talent and clients.
Recruiters are in the business of relationships—creating, developing, and maintaining strong relationships with candidates. From building that initial rapport and communicating effectively to learning how to say no in a way that does not alienate others and smoothing out conflicts, recruiters who master relationships are better at their jobs.
Recruiting in a Digital Age
With the rapid adoption of AI, the need for emotional intelligence has become more important; this is especially true for recruiters and hiring managers. It is the critical and essential skill that determines whether individuals will thrive in the era of work where machines take over much of the technical work. A person’s workplace value resides in leadership, creativity, and interpersonal skills . . . now more than ever.
It’s About Relationship Management
Recruiters need high levels of emotional intelligence to manage relationships and mitigate conflict. Headhunting can easily go awry when negotiations begin, but successful negotiation requires the ability to see both the position on the table and a way to build bridges. The end-goal is that both parties walk away happy; it signals a successful placement. Putting emotions aside, knowing when to pause, thinking before speaking or acting, and managing conflicts are all critical at this point. As companies look to bring on board new talent and talent seeks to advance their careers, we play the role of connector and relationship manager. We broker talent deals. Much like a Hollywood agent, our strength and contribution lie in our ability to play the role of matchmaker and negotiator. The better your social skills, the higher you rise.
Recruiters must build long-term relationships and connections to thrive. As a talent broker, a recruiter’s ability to play the role of matchmaker relies on a well-developed network. Each placement becomes another link forged. Maintaining relationships over years requires attention to people. In our transaction-oriented society, it means that to really excel, we must go beyond the transaction in our work. In many ways, the placement is just the beginning, and exceptional recruiters possess strong interpersonal skills and integrity throughout every aspect of their work, not just the hiring phase.
It’s About Interpersonal Skills
Interpersonal skills ultimately will decide whether you succeed or fail. Can you manage your impulses? Can you manage change? Can you adapt to shifting client priorities and needs? How agile are you? Can you build rapport in difficult negotiations or do you become defensive under pressure? These are all skills recruiters must possess as they connect talent with potential employers while supporting the objectives of both talent and companies. It requires a lot of finesse.
Building strong relationships requires demonstrated dependability, maturity, and integrity. The people we work with trust us, and often we become confidants privy to sensitive information. In today’s world of email leaks and failed transparency, trustworthiness has become a highly sought currency. Trustworthy people are emotionally intelligent. They are not mired by the weaknesses self-centered people suffer from. Emotionally intelligent people can see, understand, and recognize opposing perspectives and then build a bridge between the two. They look to resolve conflict through a win-win scenario. Anyone who has been in the recruiting business for a while knows that’s the secret to a successful negotiation and a talent placement that will stay. It’s our job to help foster those types of negotiations.
EQ: The Key to Successful Recruiting
Emotional intelligence creates the foundation for effective relationship management. It’s the underpinning of efficiently navigating the maze of personalities, biases, and human instincts that can quickly go askew. Great recruiters can self-regulate, as well as manage the fears, aspirations, and disappointments of candidates. We need to be masters at the art of persuasion. Empathy and emotional intelligence may just be the keys to becoming an exceptional recruiter in the digital age.
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