How do you balance critical thinking and emotional intelligence when interacting with others?

When someone has asked to meet me without a pre-stated agenda I'll often kick off the session by asking a friendly, open question, such as: "What are the ideal outcomes from this meeting for you?" It's a disarming way to understand what lies at the heart of their invitation and allows you to get back to their point when conversation drifts.

State up-front that their success is important as well. Make a genuine connection over their goal(s), so that they feel heard and understood in what they are trying to achieve. After all, we are all on one big team. It shows the other person that investing in the partnership is important to you and sets expectations of how you treat one another. Empathetic leaders are in demand.

I think it is critical to prepare immensely prior to engaging in a conversation (especially if this is an interview setting, otherwise not possible) because not only will your questions be more thoughtful, thus eliciting a more in-depth dialogue in general, but it also allows you to listen more rather than panicking and thinking about our next question. Sometimes the initial plan goes awry and you end with an even better conversation or information gleaned than you initially set out, but having that goal, that preparation, etc., is critical

Rather than solely focusing on what you want to get across to the other person when communicating, place *equal* focus on listening to the other person and sharing your opinions and thoughts. A technique I find helpful to kick-start active listening is to tell myself I’ll be taking notes immediately after the interaction. This method moves attention towards understanding what the other person is saying.

Restating what other have shared with you can help convey that you’re trying to practice active listening, and allows them to confirm or correct your understanding of the conversation.

Practice active listening by paying full attention to what others are saying, without interrupting or formulating your response prematurely.

I think context is important when analyzing any scenario-- however, asking open-ended questions that allow the person to let on more and thus facilitate any follow-up questions you may have with a genuine curiosity and without the appearance of a motive behind the questions.

Collaboration is the name of the game, and compassion is a requisite. I've found it to be helpful to communicate your intentions before asking questions. For example, "I want to understand where you're coming from so that we can collaborate...." or "I'm feeling a little lost and want to get aligned with your thinking, can you help me understand x,y,z..." By framing your intentions up front (as long as they're genuine), folks might be more forthcoming with information as you pose open-ended questions (who, what, how come, etc.). Avoid "why" questions as they tend to put folks on the defensive. "Why" questions provoke individuals and might make them feel judged (which might lead them to withhold information instead of share it).

Use questioning techniques to gather more information, clarify understanding, and encourage others to share their perspectives

It’s always best practice to ask the other person if sharing your thoughts would help, rather than jumping straight in with your feedback. You could frame this as you’ve faced a similar situation in the past, and ask would it be helpful if you shared what you learnt in the situation.

Offer constructive feedback based on rational analysis and empathy. Focus on specific behaviors and their impact, while also considering the emotional implications.

One thing I find extremely helpful is not to take anything personal. You can be sensitive to others emotions while not taking it personally. Everyone is entitled to have their opinions and ways of doing things, however it is important to focus on the end goal.

As a first time mom recently back into the workforce, it is important to manage emotions especially when you collaborate with teams. Being considerate to others emotions relatively affects overall outcomes positively.

Be aware of your own emotions and manage them effectively during the interaction. Stay calm, composed, and empathetic, even in challenging situations.

Critical thinking and emotional intelligence are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can complement each other. Critical thinking involves analyzing information and making reasoned judgments based on evidence and logic, while emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing one's own emotions and the emotions of others. We can use critical thinking to evaluate the facts and evidence while also being aware of the emotional impact of your words and actions. This involves actively listening to others, empathizing with their perspectives, and responding in a way that is respectful and considerate.