Emotional intelligence (EI) indicates our ability to understand and make sense of our emotions both within ourselves and in our relationships with others. Candidates who demonstrate high levels of EI are better at understanding themselves and others, making confident decisions and expressing their views. It involves being aware of and in control of one’s emotions, and using that awareness to navigate social interactions and make informed decisions. According to Daniel Goleman’s theory EI is of 5 types
Emotional Self Awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions and drives, as well as their effect on others.
Managing Emotions is your ability to manage stress, stay honest, take responsibility for your performance & behavior, handle change, be open to new ideas.
Motivation is your ability to constantly try to improve, align yourself with the goals of a group, be ready to act on opportunities, pursue goals persistently despite setbacks
Empathy indicates your ability to recognize how people feel, anticipate other’s needs, work with many different types of people, understand why others act in specific ways.
Relationship Management indicates your ability to communicate clearly, influence & lead others, cause positive change, manage conflicts, build bonds with others by cooperating.
Need for Emotional Intelligence
The need for emotional intelligence arises from the fact that emotions play a significant role in our daily lives and interactions. They influence our thoughts, behavior, and relationships, both personally and professionally. In order to have healthy relationships, manage stress, and make sound decisions, it is crucial to possess emotional intelligence.
Necessity for Emotional Intelligence
The necessity of emotional intelligence lies in its ability to enhance communication and empathy. By understanding and managing our own emotions, we can communicate our needs, desires, and boundaries more effectively, leading to better relationships and more successful collaborations. Additionally, being emotionally intelligent enables us to empathize with others, understand their perspectives, and respond to their emotions appropriately, fostering trust and cooperation.
Importance of Emotional Intelligence
The importance of emotional intelligence spans various areas of life. In personal relationships, emotional intelligence helps build stronger connections, resolve conflicts, and promote intimacy and mutual support. In the workplace, it contributes to effective leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution, ultimately improving productivity and employee satisfaction. It also plays a vital role in managing stress, adapting to change, and making wise decisions.
· Build better relationships: EI can help you understand and connect with others on a deeper level. This can lead to stronger relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.
· Handle stress more effectively: EI can help you manage stress in a healthy way. This can help you stay calm and focused under pressure, which can lead to better decision-making.
· Be more successful in your career: EI can help you be more effective in your career. This can lead to better performance, increased job satisfaction, and more opportunities for advancement.
According to the report from World Economic Forum Empathy is ranked 8th as the Future Skill.
Reference : https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2023.pdf
Benefits of emotional intelligence:
· Increased happiness and well-being: People with high EI tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives.
· Stronger relationships: EI can help you build stronger relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.
· Better decision-making: EI can help you make better decisions by helping you understand your own emotions and the emotions of others.
· Increased productivity: EI can help you be more productive at work by helping you manage stress and stay focused.
· Career advancement: EI can help you advance your career by helping you build relationships, communicate effectively, and lead others.
Improve Emotional Intelligence
· Self-awareness: Pay attention to your own emotions and how they affect you. Try to identify your triggers and develop coping mechanisms for dealing with difficult emotions.
· Self-regulation: Learn how to manage your emotions in a constructive way. This may involve practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation.
· Motivation: Set goals for yourself and work towards them, even when faced with challenges. This will help you build your self-confidence and resilience.
· Empathy: Try to understand and share the feelings of others. This can be done by listening actively and asking questions.
· Social skills: Practice communicating effectively and building strong relationships. This can be done by taking a public speaking class or joining a social club.
Example 1
Let’s take an individual having the scores of Emotional Self Awareness 80%, Managing Emotions77%
Motivation 80%, Empathy 77% and Relationship Management 72%
Emotional Self-Awareness (80%): This person demonstrates a high level of emotional self-awareness. They have a strong understanding of their own emotions, can accurately identify and label their feelings, and are attuned to how their emotions influence their thoughts and behavior.
Managing Emotions (77%): While this person has a moderately high ability to manage their emotions, there may be room for further development. They are reasonably effective at regulating their emotions, but they may encounter occasional challenges in controlling and expressing their emotions in certain situations.
Motivation (80%): This person displays a high level of motivation. They are driven, enthusiastic, and have a clear sense of purpose. They are likely to set challenging goals for themselves and actively work towards achieving them.
Empathy (77%): With a high level of empathy, this individual demonstrates an ability to understand and share the feelings of others. They are skilled at recognizing and appreciating different perspectives, and are generally sensitive and considerate towards the emotions of others.
Relationship Management (72%): While this person has a reasonably high level of relationship management skills, there may be some areas for improvement. They are likely to possess good interpersonal skills, collaborate effectively, and navigate social situations adeptly. However, they may face occasional challenges in conflict resolution or maintaining relationships under certain circumstances.
Example 2 in detail with situational Explanation
Let’s take another example with different scores of Emotional Self Awareness 63%, Managing Emotions 50%, Motivation High – 70%, Empathy 70% and Relationship Management 45%
Emotional Self-Awareness (63%): In a situational example, let’s say this person is at work and receives feedback on a project they worked on. Despite the feedback being constructive, they become defensive and feel a sense of frustration. However, after reflecting on their emotions, they realize that their initial response was driven by a fear of failure and a desire to prove themselves. This self-awareness helps them recognize the underlying emotions and enables them to respond more objectively and constructively to the feedback.
Managing Emotions (50%): In a different situation, imagine this person is facing a particularly challenging and stressful work deadline. Due to their lower score in managing emotions, they may struggle to keep their stress levels in check. They may experience heightened anxiety or become overwhelmed, leading to difficulty concentrating and completing tasks efficiently. It would be beneficial for them to develop strategies such as deep breathing exercises, time management techniques, or seeking support from colleagues to better manage their emotions during high-pressure situations.
Motivation (70%): Suppose this person is working on a long-term project that requires significant effort and dedication. Despite facing obstacles along the way, their high motivation drives them to persist and remain committed to achieving their goals. They maintain a positive attitude, stay focused, and continually seek ways to improve their performance, leading to successful project completion.
Empathy (70%): In a social setting, let’s say a close friend of this individual is going through a difficult breakup. With their high level of empathy, they can put themselves in their friend’s shoes and understand the pain and emotions they are experiencing. They offer a listening ear, provide emotional support, and show genuine concern and understanding for their friend’s feelings, which helps strengthen the friendship and provide comfort during a challenging time.
Relationship Management (45%): Imagine this person is assigned to lead a team project. However, due to their lower score in relationship management, they struggle with assertiveness and conflict resolution. In team meetings, they may have difficulty addressing differing opinions or managing conflicts among team members, which can hinder the team’s progress. It would be beneficial for them to focus on developing skills such as active listening, effective communication, and conflict resolution techniques to improve their relationship management abilities and foster better collaboration within the team.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that emotional intelligence is a fluid and malleable skillset that can be developed and improved over time with self-reflection, practice, and learning. The percentages provided offer a general overview of an individual’s emotional intelligence profile but should not be taken as absolute or fixed. With effort and dedication, an individual can work on enhancing their emotional intelligence in various areas.