Emotional intelligence (EI) is the area of
cognitive ability involving traits and social skills that facilitate
interpersonal behavior. There are two dimensions in emotional intelligence –
one is interpersonal emotional intelligence and other is intrapersonal
emotional intelligence.
Emotional Intelligence has five essential components prescribed by Golemen:
- Self
awareness –
first crucial component is awareness of one’s emotions. The ability to
recognize and understand personal moods and emotions. It drives their
effect on others. Hallmarks of self-awareness include self-confidence,
realistic self-assessment, and a self-deprecating sense of humor.
- Self
regulation –
managing one’s emotions. The ability to control or redirect
disruptive impulses and moods, and the propensity to suspend judgment and
to think before acting. Hallmarks include trustworthiness and integrity;
comfort with ambiguity; and openness to change.
- Empathy- knowing about other
people’s emotions (need to know different types of emotions). The
ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. A skill in
treating people according to their emotional reactions. Hallmarks include
expertise in building and retaining talent, cross-cultural sensitivity,
and service to clients and customers. (In an educational context, empathy
is often thought to include, or lead to, sympathy, which implies concern,
or care or a wish to soften negative emotions or experiences in others.)
- Social
skills –
Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks, and an
ability to find common ground and build rapport. Hallmarks of social
skills include effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, and
expertise building and leading teams.
- Motivation (More recently,
Goleman favors only Four Domains of EI as described in his 2002-book
“Primal Leadership”. Motivation is missing in those domains). A
passion to work for reasons that go beyond money and status. A propensity
to pursue goals with energy and persistence. Hallmarks include a strong
drive to achieve, optimism even in the face of failure, and organizational
commitment.
More recently, Goleman favors only Four Domains of EI:
- Self-awareness – awareness of one’s emotions (Emotional
Self-Awareness. Accurate Self-Assessment and Self Confidence)
- Self-management – managing one’s
emotions (Emotional Self-Control. Transparency (Trustworthiness).
Adaptability. Achievement Orientation. Initiative. Optimism.
Conscientiousness)
- Social
awareness –
knowing about other people’s emotions (need to know different types of
emotions) (Empathy. Organizational Awareness. Service Orientation).
- Relationship
management –
managing other’s emotions. (Inspirational Leadership. Influence. Developing
Others. Change Catalyst. Conflict Management. Building Bonds. Teamwork and
Collaboration. Communication). Emotions should be managed in rational
/intelligent manner.
Marshmallow experiment was done by a famous
psychologist Walter Mischel to find out deferred gratification of people.
In this experiment, 5 year children were given option of eating one
marshmallow instantly but they will be 2 marshmallows if they will wait 15
minutes. Some waited for more time and they were found to be more successful in
life. Based on this experiment following characteristics of emotional
intelligence person can be listed:
- Ability
to delay satisfaction of desires/ delay in gratification important for
emotional intelligence
- Aware
of his awareness
- Handle
stress/setback
- Positive
attitude
- Resilient
on the face of adversity
Benefits of Emotional intelligence:
- Better
dealing with different kind of conflicts
- Optimistic
and resiliency
- Better
decisions can be taken
- Person
develops leadership qualities
- Wise
and appropriate behaviour
- Better
professional progress
- Help
in managing stress
- Achieve
positive mental health
- Employee
commitment, morale, and health
- Innovation
and improvement in productivity, efficiency and effectiveness
- Build
public trust
Aristotle has said that “Anyone can become angry- that is easy, but to
be angry with right person at right time and for the right purpose – that is
not within everyone’s power and that is not easy” . Emotional intelligence can
be developed and nurtured in individuals with proper guidance and
training. IQ is relatively stable throughout life but much of emotional
intelligence(EQ) is learned. Public Administrators need high EQ because
they represent the organization to the public, they interact with the highest
number of people within and outside the organization and they set the tone for
employee morale. Leaders with empathy are able to understand their
subordinate’s needs and provide them with constructive feedback. Different
job requirements call for different types of emotional
intelligence. Emotional intelligence influences organizational
effectiveness in a number of areas.