Emotional Intelligence – Why And How To Develop It

March 17, 2020 • Leadership DNA, Transformational Leadership

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI), emotional leadership (EL), emotional quotient (EQ), and emotional intelligence quotient (EIQ), is the capability of individuals to:

• Recognize our own emotions and those of others
• Discern between different feelings and label them appropriately
• Use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior
• Manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one’s goal(s)
  (Source: Wikipedia)

 

“The emotional brain responds to an event more quickly than the thinking brain.”
Daniel Goleman

Why Is Emotional Intelligence Important?

The Research:

• Of all the people studied at work, TalentSmart found that 90% of top performers have high EQs. You can be a top performer without emotional intelligence, but the chances are slim. TalentSmart 2016.
• In a study of nearly 15,000 people conducted by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, the researchers found that when managers acknowledge employees’ emotions — and manage their own feelings — the entire workplace benefits. Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, 2020. 
• Companies that give attention to the development of EI capabilities see tremendous benefits: engaged and energized employees, improved business results, the ability to attract and retain top talent, the creation of an innovation premium, and improved customer experiences, employee satisfaction, and company creativity. The EI Advantage: Driving Innovation and Business Success through the Power of Emotional Intelligence. HBR Research Report, 2019.
• Riopel, L. (2019, November 2). Goleman And Other Key Names in Emotional Intelligence Research. Positive Psychology. A great review of the history of emotional intelligence, including who first coined the term and who is considered the founder of emotional intelligence.
• The Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations (CREIO). Founded in 1996, the mission of the Consortium is to advance research and practice of emotional and social intelligence in organizations through the generation and exchange of knowledge. The site includes a wealth of information on EI, including an article on The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence and a newsletter.

Where to Learn More and Develop Emotional Intelligence

Recommended Reading

• Bradberry, T. (Ph.D.). 9 Habits of Highly Emotionally Intelligent People. TalentSmart. Other excellent articles from TalentSmart and a newsletter sign up can be found here.
• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman – Reading Guide: Books. Penguin Random House.
• Bradberry, T., & Greaves, J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. ‌To learn how to increase your emotional intelligence (EQ), consider taking the online Emotional Intelligence Appraisal® test included with this book. Your results will pinpoint which of the book’s 66 emotional intelligence strategies will increase your EQ the most.
• Goleman, D., & Boyatzis, R. (2017). Emotional Intelligence Has 12 Elements. Which Do You Need to Work On? Harvard Business Review.
• Drigas, A., & Papoutsi, C. (2018). A New Layered Model on Emotional Intelligence. Behavioral Sciences, 8(5), 45. The authors present an emotional cognitive-based approach to the process of gaining emotional intelligence. A nine-layer pyramid of EI and the gradual development to reach the top of EI.

Recommended Viewing

• MindTools Videos. (2019). Developing Emotional Intelligence. In YouTube. A short clip and link to a “How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?” Quiz.
• Big Think. (2012). Daniel Goleman Introduces Emotional Intelligence. In YouTube.
• Bradberry, T. (2017). The Power of Emotional Intelligence | Travis Bradberry | TEDxUCIrvine. In YouTube. Unlike IQ, emotional intelligence is a choice and a discipline, not an innate quality bestowed upon the lucky. In this powerful and entertaining talk, Dr. Travis Bradberry, co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, shows you how to use this critical skill to your advantage. The clip follows.

Follow Thought Leaders

Facebook:

• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
• TalentSmart
• Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations

LinkedIn:

• The Emotional Intelligence Network This is a group to discuss the challenges and opportunities of increasing emotional intelligence in the workplace, to share practices, and to learn together. The group is hosted by Six Seconds, The Emotional Intelligence Network, a global not-for-profit corporation that supports change agents to make a positive difference.
• Daniel Goleman – What Makes a Leader? Emotional and Social Intelligence articles
• Travis Bradberry. Coauthor EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 2.0 & President at TalentSmart