So, you got a bachelor’s degree…
They say that a bachelor’s degree is now equivalent to what a high school diploma was a few decades ago. Many students are going on to higher education, but it’s not the degree that sets an individual apart from the others anymore. Then why does someone pursue a bachelor’s degree?
The term “bachelor’s degree” derives from the 12th century and refers to a knight bachelor. The knight bachelor was a man who went through knight training, had been knighted, but was too young and inexperienced (or too poor) to gather the following under his own banner. He was equipped, he was ready to go and had what he needed to move forward, but he didn’t have any influence or power. He was equipped, but he wasn’t important. He was equipped, but nobody wanted to follow or listen to him, yet.
Today, it’s not whether you have the scholarly knowledge for the job, that’s already expected with your earned degree. It’s the emotional intelligence, self sufficiency, and soft skills that graduates are struggling with.
We may not know it, but we all want to lead and have influence. Being a leader is not the same as having a title. It’s not about being given a role, it comes down to one word; influence. You become a leader when people allow you to have influence in their lives and you’re not a leader if you don’t, regardless of what your title says.
So how do you go about attaining leadership qualities? Develop and improve your emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is a set of non-cognitive competencies that are associated with interpersonal effectiveness or “people skills”, which are pivotal within the workplace. Emotional intelligence is defined as the “ability to recognize the meaning of emotions and their relationships and to reason and solve problems on the basis of them.” Many businesses and organizations have found that having a strong sense of emotional intelligence can be a strong predicator of performance, happiness, and overall productivity. With this in mind, it shouldn’t be a surprise that research shows that emotional intelligence becomes a progressively applicable trait of those who successfully climb the career ladder in business.
To develop and display emotional intelligence, you must tap into your effective listening skills in handling interpersonal situations to show “sensitivity to others’ wants and needs, insight into problems and solutions, foster feedback, provide access to others’ thoughts and feeling, and influence others’ views of ourselves” (Canary, Cody, and Manusov, 2008). The nonverbal side of listening is having the correct response. This includes facial expression and gaze, proxemics, kinesics, physical appearance, touch, time, vocalics, and environment. By being aware of nonverbal cues that are naturally unintentional and environmental, a person can increase their emotional intelligence. This creates an immense impact to those around them, and is highly important in developing career influencing relationships. For example sales or marketing roles rely heavily on these soft skills, which separates the good from the VERY GOOD.
So, right now you have a bachelor degree. That means you’re ready to go, you’re equipped and you have something to offer the world, but you may not have the influence yet.
When it comes to being a modern knight bachelor, it begins with building emotional intelligence and influencing others… no matter where you are at in life or what your goals are. You are equipped and ready to leave your mark in this world. Set yourself apart; pick up your sword and fly your own banner.
I hope this article was useful, or at least interesting. If you have any comments or feedback, I welcome the conversation.
Allie Trnka
Paint & Pixel Projects By Allie T 