Unlocking the power of emotional intelligence in medical writers

Abstract

Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to recognise and understand emotions (one’s own and those of other people), is a valuable attribute for medical writers (MWs). MWs play a pivotal role in communicating medical and scientific information to regulators, patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. EI helps MWs to understand the needs of the audience, develop effective communication skills, author impactful content, and collaborate efficiently with multiple stakeholders. It is thus essential for MWs to develop strong EI skills, i.e., be self-aware and self-motivated, be able to self-regulate, take ownership and responsibility for actions, be problem solvers, show empathy, foster healthy relationships, evaluate feedback positively, and implement balanced solutions. To enhance their EI, MWs can adopt EI-focussed training and development sessions at workplace, practice mindfulness daily, assess EI using multi-rater feedback scales, seek EI coaching, and set realistic goals.