The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Transformation in Iran's Economic Future

Seyed Mohsen Tabatabaei Mozdabadi, in an interview with the economic correspondent of the ANA News Agency, regarding the role of artificial intelligence in influencing the future of the country's economy, said: In today's complex and volatile world, the economy is no longer formed solely on the basis of financial and physical resources; rather, human, emotional, and intellectual capital play a decisive role in the progress of countries. In the meantime, emotional intelligence, as the ability to understand, manage, and apply emotions in decision-making, has become one of the most important factors for success in organizations and the economy. The Secretary General of the Iranian Urban Economics Scientific Association continued: But when emotional intelligence is placed alongside pure thinking and an intelligent organizational transformation approach, it can transform the economic future of countries; because the combination of these three rebuilds organizations from within and creates productivity, creativity, and sustainability from the hearts of humans. Pure thinking and emotional intelligence; Two Wings of Organizational Transformation, a faculty member at Islamic Azad University, emphasized: Lean thinking is a philosophy that aims to eliminate waste and focus on value creation. When this approach is combined with emotional intelligence, organizations learn how to prevent human waste in addition to eliminating process waste, such as apathy, conflict, stress, and burnout. He continued: In such an organization, managers listen, empathize, and combine emotional decisions with logical analysis instead of just controlling. This is where emotional intelligence practically serves lean thinking and creates a culture of transformation. According to Tabatabaei Mazdabadi; In Japan, large companies such as Toyota, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi have combined lean thinking with emotional intelligence training for decades. They have found that employees who have a sense of belonging, trust, and mutual respect are ten times more effective than complex management systems. A faculty member at Islamic Azad University said: In Sweden and Denmark, state-based economic organizations have implemented models of "human organizational transformation" in which managers are regularly trained in emotional intelligence skills so that they can make transparent and humane decisions in economic and social crises. He clarified: Among Islamic countries, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates are also prominent examples. In reforming its administrative structure, Malaysia has emphasized training leaders with an emotional intelligence approach and combined it with a lean thinking model in government processes. The UAE also uses a program called Emotional Lean Management in its large investment companies, which aims to increase decision-making agility and improve employee morale — a factor that has directly led to sustainable economic growth. A faculty member at Islamic Azad University said: In Iran, the administrative and organizational system faces challenges such as centralization, emotional decision-making without analysis, weakness in inter-organizational communications, and the lack of a culture of continuous learning. These issues are the same waste that lean thinking emphasizes on eliminating. The Secretary General of the Iranian Urban Economics Scientific Association emphasized: The combination of emotional intelligence and lean thinking in the country's management system can be the starting point for sustainable organizational transformation. By cultivating managers who recognize their own and others' emotions, communicate effectively, and make rational decisions with a human approach, we can strengthen the foundations of a human and creative economy, an economy that is based not only on profit, but also on the satisfaction, trust, and motivation of human resources. Tabatabai Mozabadi pointed out the benefits of using emotional intelligence and said: Increasing employee motivation and productivity: By understanding emotions, managers align individuals with the organization's goals. Reducing conflicts and wasting human energy: Decisions are made based on empathy and constructive dialogue. Increasing organizational innovation: When there is a sense of security and belonging, creativity also grows. The ability to predict and respond quickly in economic crises: Managers with high emotional intelligence avoid emotional decisions in critical situations. Increasing public trust and social capital of organizations: Humane and ethical behaviors enhance the country's economic image. All in all, these can contribute greatly to lean organizational transformation. He clarified: If Iranian organizations and economic institutions remain oblivious to emotional intelligence and lean thinking, they will face serious risks. Risks such as the spread of dry and inhuman bureaucracy, increased employee burnout and the departure of specialized forces, emotional and short-sighted decision-making, the loss of creativity and the spirit of cooperation, and finally, the weakening of the country's economic strength due to the lack of internal cohesion. Simply put, the lack of lean thinking and emotional intelligence is a hidden waste in the human structure of the Iranian economy. The faculty member of Islamic Azad University emphasized: Iran's economic future depends more than anything on the transformation within organizations and the minds of managers. If organizations learn to understand emotions, use data properly, and simplify and humanize processes, then the path to economic development will be paved in a natural and sustainable way. He concluded by emphasizing that pure thinking organizes the organization from within. Emotional intelligence keeps its spirit alive, and the combination of the two will make the economy of the future human, dynamic, and sustainable.

Anna News Agency