There is a new yardstick by which people in organisations are being judged, academic achievement is no longer the sole measure of success; Emotional Intelligence , how self aware we are of our own feelings and the feelings of others carries increasing value because it more readly identifies who will be a more successful leader/manager and who won't.
Research conducted by the Unitied States Army found that officers that exhibited Emotional Intelligence were seen as the more successful leaders than those who had greater academic qualities.
so what is Emotional Intelligence?
Daniel Goleman author of the book "Emotional Intelligence" defines it as the capacity for recognising our own feelings and those of others for motivating ourselves and for managing emotions well in ourselves and others".
There are 4 elements to Emotional Intelligence...
Emotional Identification, Perception and Expression
The ability to perceive and identify emotions in faces, tone of voice, body language The capacity for self-awareness, being aware of your own feelings as they are occurring. The capacity for emotional literacy. Being able to label specific feelings in your-self and others, being able to discuss emotions and communicate clearly and directly.
Emotional Facilitation of Thought
The ability to incorporate feelings into analysis, reasoning, problem solving and decision making. The potential of your feelings to guide you to what is important to think about.
Emotional Understanding
The ability to solve emotional problems.
The ability to identify and understand the inter-relationships between emotions, thoughts and behaviour.
For example, how thought can affect emotions or how emotions can affect thoughts, and how your emotions can lead to the behaviour in yourself and others.
The ability to understand the value of emotions to the survival of the species.
Emotional Management
The ability to take responsibility for one's own emotions and happiness.
The ability to turn negative emotions into positive learning and growing opportunities.
The ability to help others identify and benefit from their emotions.
Want to know how Emotionally Intelligent you are?
Then try this quiz!
Last Updated: 07/12/2007