.png)
By Amy Wotawa, Senior QA Manager
In the world of Quality Assurance (QA), it's natural to place a heavy emphasis on hard skills and technical expertise. These are all necessary skills to meet the vast requirements we have, but we cannot overlook the significance of soft skills, particularly when it comes to auditing. Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be a powerful force that can transform audits from rigid routines into collaborative experiences that drive real improvement.
Understanding the Essence of Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence, or EI, encompasses a spectrum of abilities crucial for navigating the complexity of human interactions. It involves adeptness to recognize, understand, and skilfully manage one's own emotions, as well as those of others. At its core, EI involves recognizing and regulating emotions, showing empathy, and exercising sound judgment in social interactions.
In the context of auditing, where relationships and trust set the foundation for successful engagements, strong EI can drive progress and improvement. It goes beyond checklists and procedures into the realm of human dynamics and organizational nuances that cannot be conveyed through documents.
The Impact of EI Beyond Audit Reports
The mark of an exceptional auditor extends long after the audit report has been delivered through the lasting positive impact left on auditee organizations. Auditors with strong EI set up an environment where audits are less transactional and more collaborative opportunities for continual improvement, although no less stringent on requirements. Strong EI can help auditors to navigate resistance and remove obstacles that may hinder the audit process. Auditors can build connections that pave the way for candid conversations and transparent insights. They can better unravel the complexities of team dynamics and organizational nuances, fostering a more collaborative atmosphere.
By using this approach and style, auditors can provide as much value to auditee organizations as they do for their clients. This approach can be highly effective and not only facilitates a smoother audit process but also nurtures long-lasting relationships built on trust and understanding. Vendor relationships matter, so choosing the right audit partners that have the combination of hard and soft skills is key.
About Amy Wotawa
Amy Wotawa is a true expert in GLP Quality including GcLP and GLP Quality. With 15 years of direct experience in industry, Amy has spent the majority of her career in laboratory quality. She moved through increasing levels of seniority within quality assurance with multiple domains of experiences in Quality management systems, Quality strategies and has an extensive experience auditing across North America. Her vast experience enables a uniquely global perspective in bringing quality best practices to our clients.
About Zigzag Associates
Zigzag is a United Kingdom headquartered consulting firm, with global office locations, specializing in pharmaceutical research quality and compliance. With a team of experienced professionals and deep industry expertise, we provide comprehensive consulting services to pharmaceutical companies, helping them navigate regulatory requirements, optimize quality systems, and ensure compliance throughout the drug development process.
For more information, please contact us here: https://www.zigzagassociates.com/contact-us