The advise was given by experts during a recent event organised by The Peak Performer Africa to mark this year’s International Men’s Day in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, which was held with the theme, ‘The Magic of Emotional Intelligence, the Managing Director of Transatlantic Development Limited, Dr Bankole Allibay, stated that emotional intelligence plays a central role in ensuring that men are able to stand firm in the midst of all the issues that they need to manage on a daily basis.
Allibay, who is a consultant at the World Bank, noted: “Oftentimes there is this assumption that men have it all figured out and that they are actually doing well and perfect. The truth of the matter is that the global business place actually requires more from us now than it has been over the years.
That means that we need to put in more than what we have in stock over the years. So, we need to reinvent ourselves and actually be up to the task. And this is something that we cannot do without the internal energy, which actually breeds from our emotional intelligence because the gap in that performance will actually leave a gap in all areas from children mentoring to family management, business, career and every aspect of our lives.
“So, emotional intelligence plays a central role in ensuring that we are able to stand firm in the midst of all these issues that we need to manage.”
Specifically speaking on how emotional intelligence could help men surmount the challenges posed by the current economic downturn in the country, Allibay added: “Emotional intelligence is beyond us just reading the books. It is basically making an informed decision at every point in time. So, at every point in time, we need to take responsibility for our responses; we need to be sure that we are making the best judgment at every point in time. It’s not an easy procedure; it’s a very challenging procedure but we need to consult our best reasonable resources at every point in time to be sure that we are making the best decision.
If not, a simple response from an action of someone else can actually ruin our day. So, it is better for us to take a step back, reassess the situation and be very skilful in responding so that we don’t destroy the bigger picture with very minute details. So, that’s very important.”
On his part, the Head, of Marketing and Corporate Communications Department, Ecobank Nigeria, Babajide Sipe, noted that because every man goes through circles where he works with other people and has a family and children to raise, it is important that he understands how to manage his emotions when he is in the midst of people.
“People come from different backgrounds and different experiences. How do you manage those experiences? How do you manage people’s expectations? How do you manage people’s reactions to certain things? How are you able to actually put yourself in other people’s shoes to be able to ensure that what you would like to be done to you is what you are doing to others? Also, how do you reciprocate situations that are outside your control? How do you stay back and think before you react to certain things? So, a lot of those things that go through our mind as men are the reason we are talking about emotional intelligence and why we need to understand how to manage our emotions as men,” he said.
In his remarks, a television broadcaster and President of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association, Nigeria, Mike Okwoche, noted that focusing on emotional intelligence was a very good way to celebrate international men’s day in Nigeria.
Okwoche, who applauded The Peak Performer Africa for organising the event, said: “Emotional intelligence is what everybody underrates in the society but that is the crux of our inter-relationships. The reason people quarrel or have issues is because of insensitivity to each other and a lack of empathy. So, if you have consideration for what the other person is going through as the case may be and you have the mindset to assist and help, it will reduce the kind of tension, chaos and friction in our society. So, centring on emotional intelligence was a very good way to look at international men’s day. That window is really important. If we have the mastery of our emotions, if we have the mastery of our minds and ourselves, we will be better off in our families, places of work and society.”
Publisher of Peak Performer Africa, Dr. Abiola Salami, said the organisation decided to host the event to increase awareness on celebrating men and inspiring men as well.
Salami, who is the author of the book, The Magic Of Emotional Intelligence, added: “In our work in Champ, which is 10 years this year, for nine years out of those 10, we have been engaged in empowering and inspiring women. But we discovered that for us to actually build a gender-balanced society, we need to empower both sides of the conversation. And we thought that there is no better day to do this than international men’s day. I dare say that there are many men watching this right now that are not even aware that there is a date in the year dedicated to celebrating and inspiring men. So, we have put this together to increase awareness, engage men and celebrate men. I mean you can see how wonderful the session is and men are being inspired. Men are learning and teaching each other, and having fun as well.”
