Emotional Intelligence
The ability to perceive, understand, express, and control emotions is referred to as emotional intelligence (EQ)."The ability to monitor one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviour," according to Peter Salovey and John Mayer.
• Wayne Payne's doctoral thesis, A Study of Emotion: Developing Emotional Intelligence, is widely credited with coining the term "emotional intelligence." However, in 1995, a book titled "Emotional Intelligence – A Practical Guide" popularised the concept.
• Daniel Goleman argues in "Why It Can Matter More Than IQ" that emotional intelligence is more important for life success than IQ.
• Self-awareness, motivation, empathy, and social skills are all demonstrated by people with high EQ.
• IQ, according to Daniel Goleman, is a threshold quality: it matters for entry-level to high-level management jobs, but it no longer helps leaders once they reach that level, because most leaders already have a high IQ.
• What distinguishes effective leaders from ineffective leaders, according to Goleman, is their ability to control their own emotions and understand other people's emotions, as well as their internal motivation and social skills.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IQ AND EQ
• The "Intelligence Quotient" is a measurement of a person's relative intelligence. The ability to identify and manage your own and others' emotions is known as emotional quotient, or EQ.
• "A number used to express a person's apparent relative intelligence," according to Merriam-Webster. Determined by multiplying one's mental age (as reported on a standardised test) by 100 - or a score based on one's performance on a standardised intelligence test relative to the average performance of others of the same age.
• Assessments are used to determine Emotional Intelligence.
TRAITS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE (EI)
In 1990, Peter Salovey and John Mayer coined the term "emotional intelligence," which they defined as a set of five characteristics:
1. Emotional Self-Awareness: The ability to keep track of your own emotions and recognise them as they happen.
2. Self-Management: The ability to control impulses, ensure appropriate emotional reactions, and comprehend what motivates those emotions.
3. Self-Motivation: The ability to direct one's emotions toward achieving personal objectives. This includes the ability to stifle impulses and delay gratification.
4. Empathy: The ability to read other people's emotional cues and to see things from their point of view, while also being aware of how their feelings may differ.
5. Relationship Management: The ability to respond appropriately to others' emotions while also managing one's own; social competence.
CRITICISM OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
The following are the major criticisms regarding Emotional Intelligence (EI)
1. CANNOT BE RECOGNIZED AS FORM OF INTELLIGENCE
a. Goleman’s early work has been criticised for assuming from the beginning that EI is a type of intelligence.
b. The core of this criticism is that scientific inquiry relies on the use of valid and consistent constructs, and that psychologists had established theoretical distinctions between factors such as abilities and accomplishments, skills and habits, attitudes and values, and personality traits and emotional states before the term EI was coined. As a result, some academics believe that the term EI combines and conflates widely held concepts and definitions.
c. Goleman tries to fool us into thinking he's presenting something new when, in fact, much of what he's saying has been studied for years in the context of personality research.
2. CONFUSING SKILLS WITH MORAL QUALITIES
• EI is commonly mistakenly thought to be a desirable moral quality rather than a skill.
• A well-developed EI is not only a useful tool for achieving objectives, but it can also be used to manipulate others by robbing them of their ability to reason.
3. EI HAS LITTLE PREDICTIVE VALUE
a. Goleman made unsubstantiated claims about emotional intelligence's power and predictive ability.
b. EI has been shown to add little or nothing to the explanation or prediction of some common outcomes in studies (like work success).
c. Similarly, many researchers have expressed reservations about how well self-reported EI measures correlate with established personality dimensions.
4. OTHER CRITICISMS
a. Goleman portrays his work as "scientific" when it does not stand up to scrutiny. Emotional intelligence, unlike IQ, does not have a definite objective test. (The intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a score derived from one of several standardised tests used to determine a person's intelligence.)
b. He implies that anyone can learn emotional intelligence and fails to acknowledge either the relatively new field of emotional intelligence or the relatively new field of emotional intelligence.
c. Individual differences in innate potential or the fixed nature of the personality traits he includes in his definition of EI.
d. His personal views on what is "appropriate" run counter to academic theory on the importance of our emotions. He still appears to think of emotions as primarily something to be controlled and restrained rather than something to be valued.
WAYS TO IMPROVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE (EI)
1. Use an assertive communication style: - Without coming across as aggressive or passive, assertive communication goes a long way toward earning respect. Emotionally intelligent people know how to express themselves directly while still respecting others' opinions and needs.
2. Instead of reacting to conflict, respond: - Emotional outbursts and feelings of anger are common during times of conflict. During stressful situations, the emotionally intelligent person knows how to remain calm. They don't make rash decisions that can lead to even more serious issues. They recognise that the goal in a conflict situation is a resolution, and they make a conscious effort to ensure that their actions and words support that goal.
3. Utilize active listening skills: - Emotionally intelligent people listen for clarity in conversations rather than simply waiting for their turn to speak.
4. Self-motivation:- Emotionally intelligent people are self-motivated, and their demeanour inspires others. They set goals and persevere in the face of adversity.
5. Practice ways to keep a positive attitude: - Emotionally intelligent people are aware of their surroundings' moods and adjust their attitude accordingly.
6. Exercise self-awareness:- People who are emotionally intelligent are self-aware and intuitive. They are conscious of their own emotions and how they influence those around them. They also pick up on other people's emotions and body language and use it to improve their communication abilities.
7. Be open to criticism: - The ability to take criticism is an important part of increasing your emotional intelligence. Rather than being offended or defensive, people with high EQ take a few moments to understand where the criticism is coming from, how it is affecting others or their own performance, and how they can resolve any issues constructively.
8. Empathize with others: - People who are emotionally intelligent are able to empathise with others. They realise that empathy is a strength, not a weakness, in terms of emotional intelligence. Empathy enables them to connect with others on a fundamental human level. It paves the way for mutual respect and understanding between people who hold opposing viewpoints and are in opposing situations.
9. Utilize leadership abilities: - Emotionally intelligent people are natural leaders. They hold themselves to high standards and set an example for others to follow. They are self-starters with excellent decision-making and problem-solving abilities. This enables you to perform at a higher and more productive level in life and at work.
10. Make yourself approachable and sociable: - People who are emotionally intelligent come across as approachable. They smile and exude a cheerful demeanour. They employ appropriate social skills in accordance with their relationship with whomever they are in contact with. They have excellent interpersonal skills and know how to communicate effectively, whether verbally or nonverbally.
UTILITIES AND APPLICATION OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE
• Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a useful tool for administrators and managers in government and business.
• People who are strong in various combinations of emotional competencies outperform people who are weak in those areas, according to research on Emotional Intelligence.
• Emotional Intelligence has a significant impact on team member relationships as well as their ability to achieve a team's objectives.
• Understanding our own EI strengths and weaknesses, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of other team members, can help us improve the interpersonal dynamics of teamwork.
• Emotional Intelligence has a significant impact on how we approach interpersonal issues. As a result, EI differences frequently cause conflict in organisations.
• Understanding how to use our EI more effectively aids us in resolving interpersonal conflicts more effectively and efficiently, as well as improving the overall effectiveness of work groups.
• People can reduce conflict and become more accepting when they understand the basics of how they differ from one another, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
• Emotional intelligence is important for government employees for a variety of reasons, some of which are listed below:
1. EI aids in better beneficiary scheme targeting.
2. EI aids in motivating subordinates, particularly intense or demanding situations.
3. EI aids in a better understanding of the challenges that public services face as well as stress reduction.
4. EI aids in the development of policies that improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of society.
5. EI serves as a useful tool for making informed decisions.
6. EI assists in bridging communication gaps and reducing the likelihood of miscommunication.
7. EI promotes adaptability, empathy, and transparency.