THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL WORKERS' EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON THE INTERACTION EFFECTIVENESS WITH CLIENTS

Abstract

The article identifies that emotional intelligence is an important factor that determines the effectiveness of the professional activities of social workers. It includes the ability to recognize, understand and regulate one’s own emotions, as well as empathy – taking into account the emotional state of clients. A high level of emotional intelligence helps to establish trusting relationships, which is critically important when working with vulnerable groups of the population. It is noted that social workers with developed emotional competence cope more effectively with stressful situations, make informed decisions and maintain a stable emotional state in difficult conditions. This has a positive effect on both the quality of social services and the reduction of the level of conflict in interaction with clients. Empathy helps to understand the needs of clients more deeply, which contributes to an individual approach to each situation and increases the effectiveness of social work. It is shown that emotional intelligence also determines the level of communication skills of social workers. Emotional control and self-regulation allow you to avoid impulsive reactions in stressful situations, which is important for negotiating, resolving conflicts and maintaining professional communication. In addition, a high level of emotional intelligence helps reduce the risk of professional burnout, as social workers often experience significant psychological stress. It has been proven that workers with developed emotional intelligence are able to assess the situation from different perspectives, which contributes to making informed decisions and constructively solving problems. Studies confirm that specialists who have undergone training in the development of emotional intelligence demonstrate higher efficiency in interacting with clients, adapt faster to changing working conditions and ensure a high level of satisfaction of recipients of social services. It has been determined that the level of emotional intelligence depends on the personal characteristics of the employee, the specifics of his activities and the level of organizational support. Therefore, the development of emotional competence should be considered as a complex process that includes professional training, supervision and the application of psychological techniques. A number of recommendations for its development are proposed. These include the implementation of training programs, the development of self-reflection skills, communication training, the creation of a favorable work environment and the use of emotional self-control technologies.