Emotional Intelligence
When Daniel Goleman published the book Emotional Intelligence in 1995, he sparked much public discussion about what “intelligence” really is. Until Goleman’s book came along, people generally used that word to mean brain power, believing that a person in possession of that power could apply it to any problem, be it logical, scientific, moral or emotional. The device for measuring how much of this all-embracing power a given person possessed, they thought, was intelligence quotient (IQ). Then, through his book, Goleman made people aware that humans also have an emotional intelligence quotient (EQ), and it exists independently of their IQ. In fact, it turned out that people with a high IQ could have low emotional intelligence, and vice versa.
How we discuss feelings and our ability to handle them has never been the same since.
The Human Emotional Response
When emotions arise in the brain, the amygdala jumps into action. It can override the rational cortex so that the body can react almost instantaneously to whatever stimulus triggered the emotion. This is a very useful response if that stimulus is an immediate threat to your safety—that is, the kinds of fight-or-flight situations our prehistoric ancestors faced. It’s not so good for most situations in modern life, because it causes us to act on unthinking impulse and, often, in a self-centred manner. An emotionally intelligent person has learned to be aware of and control the reaction of the amygdala, and when emotional, lets the emotion subside before taking any action.
Emotional Intelligence is Self-Control
Emotional intelligence can be divided into four areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. Self-awareness means knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, understanding your emotions and being honest with yourself. Self-management includes being calm, staying calm in a crisis and reacting rationally. Social awareness involves empathy, being able to put yourself into the place of another person and seeing things from all points of view. Relationship management includes conveying positive emotion (for example, through recognition and positive feedback), listening to other people and hearing what they are saying, and giving people what they need and want in emotional terms.
What does Emotional Intelligence Look Like?
People with high EQ can easily be recognised based on their ability to engage with others. They are genuinely interested in other people, and they ask questions, listening carefully to the answers. They exercise self-control in their behaviour, considering the feelings of other people. They allow other people to be themselves, without trying to control them or take centre stage. And they respect and accept the validity of other people’s opinions.
Beyond these qualities, they know their weaknesses and strengths. They can accept criticism as a useful tool to improve their behaviour. If they make a mistake, they can learn from it and move on. They set clear boundaries and can say no when appropriate. If given responsibility, they welcome it and respond to the best of their ability.
They can be a team player, or a leader. They see leadership as inspiring others to fulfil their full potential. They give their team praise when deserved, and helpful feedback when needed. Altogether, other people respond to them with admiration and respect.
How does emotional intelligence work?
Daniel Goleman defines EQ as six points:
Knowing that one is feeling an emotion
Recognising what it is
Giving a name to the emotion
Discovering what triggers it
Understanding the emotion
Learning to control it
Another way to put it could be: when I feel an emotion, I recognise it by name; I realise that I am emotional; I understand that someone or something makes me feel a certain emotion; I take a moment to restrain myself; then I respond in an appropriate, constructive manner.
The Emotional Intelligence Workbook by Jill and Derek Dann is a useful tool for developing emotional intelligence.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Are you aware of your emotions? Do you find it difficult to control how you feel? Do you let your emotions control you? Are you in control of yourself at all times?
Published in September, 2022