To be a flight attendant, you must have a high emotional quotient. This is one of the essential requirements for becoming a cabin crew. The role of flight attendants has evolved compared to those of the 1950s. Also, passenger profiles and behavior have changed.
During the 1950s to 1970s, flying was only for the rich and famous. It was a luxury that only the chosen few with huge pockets could enjoy. Today, the advent of low-cost carriers has made flying possible for everyone. From the rich to the not-so-rich, from the educated to the uneducated, almost everyone can fly nowadays. This means flight attendants will have to deal with different personalities every day. Nowadays, passenger comes from all classes. You have those who understand everything, and you have that kind of passengers who feel that buying a plane ticket includes buying the flight attendant.
Flight attendants need to have high emotional quotient in order for them to perform their duties well
Flight attendants are highly trained safety professionals. Providing passengers with utmost comfort is secondary. Hence, safety should never be sacrificed in exchange for convenience. Sad to say, the infamous slogan “customer is always right” and “customer is king” has taken over our passengers’ minds that they forget that these cabin crew members know more about aircraft safety and standards. There are even instances when passengers ask for food during landing procedures with an accompanying “I want it now.”
Social media has also allowed passengers to get whatever they want, even if they are not allowed to. They threaten the flight attendant to expose them on social media if they do not get what they want.
Being a cabin crew is not just passing the exams and being able to carry out safety and standard procedures. People skills are needed, and to succeed in this field, one has to have a high Emotional Quotient (EQ).
What is Emotional Quotient?
Emotional Quotient is the level of someone’s emotional intelligence. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotion of others. According to Psychology Today, this includes three skills:
- Emotional awareness
- Ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving
- Ability to manage emotions, which includes regulating your own emotions and cheering up or calming down other people
A high EQ allows flight attendant to carry on their duties in the highest and most professional manner. They have to be able to control passengers, especially when safety issues are on the line. Having a high EQ saves the flight attendant from ‘burning out immediately, where they may even encounter the most discriminatory statements. Flight attendants must also remember that when they put on their uniforms, they play a vital role inside the aircraft. Having a high EQ allows them to manage their emotions appropriately.
Regarding safety standards, especially for air travel, there is no such thing as “the customer is always right.” Is the passenger right if he wants to stand up during the landing sequence? The cabin crew has to educate passengers about safety. Having a high E.Q. will allow them to address such problems professionally while keeping emotions at check.
So if you want to be a successful flight attendant, make sure to have a high emotional quotient. Can this be developed? Yes definitely.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
