This informal CPD article on Emotional Intelligence was provided by Dominion Phillips Consultancy, specializing in the area of productivity and performance management, leadership/faculty development, communication skills, emotional intelligence, psychological consulting and executive coaching.
What is Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence has been the buzz word around for a few years now. After Peter Salovey and John Mayer, the term emotional intelligence was popularized by world renowned psychologist from Harvard, Daniel Goleman. The focus of his study initially was researching about social intelligence and how it affects our brain as we interact with the environment, how our self emerges through the social interactions and this extended his study to emotional intelligence which was grounded from the theories of Individual psychology.
Emotional Intelligence Research
Research has found that emotional intelligence is responsible for 80% of one’s success. So rather than viewing intelligence strictly as how well one is engaged in analytic tasks associated with memory, reasoning, judgment, and abstract thought, theories which is also considered as IQ (Intelligence Quotient) research scholars began considering intelligence as a broader array of just mental abilities. Some names of scientist and researchers involved in the study are Cantor & Kihlstrom, 1987; Gardner, 1983 ⁄ 1993; Sternberg, 1985. To therefore look at intelligence as a whole they discovered emotional quotient along with the existing intelligence quotient. They also found that a person with average IQ and high IQ was more successful than a person with High IQ but low EQ. Daniel Goleman’s work with EQ has been revolutionary and he coined the term of Emotional Intelligence which explores an emerging new science with startling implications for our complex world.
Emotional Intelligence is about being able to understand oneself better being self-aware of our passion, emotions, strengths, weaknesses and to have the ability to manage them, regulate them for positive mindset and outcomes. Another aspect of emotional intelligence are the social skills, understanding and being aware of how people feel the ability to listen to them and understand them. Empathize with them and manage people emotions with sensitivity and care. Manage conflicts and have effective conversations building strong relationships, high performing teams and happy employees. Leaders need empathy in dealing with people in their day-to-day functions. Leaders with high emotional intelligence influence people positively and are great in bringing high inspirational environment.
Emotionally intelligent people and leaders are able to foster talent, deal with conflicts and have healthy relationships. They are able to understand different emotions and label them appropriately and use those signals to guide thinking and behavior. Emotionally intelligent leaders are very effective in fostering a positive environment for performance and retention of employees. Emotionally Intelligence organizations are able to bring collective self-awareness, learning from each other and integrated self-management. Strong qualities of people and leaders who have high emotional intelligence are perseverance, grit, attitude to never give up, consistency, empathy, calm in crisis, have great relationships and know how to manage failure. Successful leaders are highly emotionally intelligent and are effective in conflict resolution, successful negotiation and enhancing personal and professional relationships.
Mind - Body - Emotions
Mind – Body - Emotions are integrated and one change in any affects the other. Emotions are critical to mental health, job performance, and leadership skills in organizations. Emotional intelligence being such an important component, can be further developed by practice daily, by participating in professional learning through EI workshops and trainings, creating a space in life to slow down and self-assess, introspect, to integrate sensitivity to people’s emotional needs by listening, empathizing and effective social interactions.
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