Emotional Intelligence
Most of us are familiar with the term intelligence from the perspective of a person’s cognitive ability; using information and logic to analyze and evaluate information, solve problems, and make predictions. This is commonly referred to and measured as a person’s intelligence quotient (IQ). However, IQ doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, according to Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, there are eight types of intelligence.
Spatial intelligence – visual and spatial judgment
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence – physical movement and motor control
Musical intelligence – rhythm and music
Linguistic intelligence – words, language, and writing
Logical-mathematical intelligence – analyzing problems and mathematical operations
Interpersonal intelligence – understanding and relating to others
Intrapersonal intelligence – introspection and self-reflection
Naturalistic intelligence – seeing patterns and relationships to nature
Intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence combine into what is called emotional intelligence. Often referred to as EI or EQ, Daniel Goleman first described the term emotional intelligence in the 1980s and has since become a very well-researched and very relevant work topic. Emotional intelligence includes four components: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
Self-awareness is about understanding your own emotions. When you have a high level of self-awareness, you can recognize and label your emotions and understand how different situations or interactions influence your emotions. For example, a person with high self-awareness will be able to accurately perceive their emotions in the moment. They will understand their inclinations to act in a certain way as a result of their emotions.
Self-management is about actively controlling your own emotions. A person with high self-management ability will leverage their understanding of their emotional state to remain adaptable and direct their behavior in a positive way. We can all probably think of a time when our child, pet, friend, or coworker did something that made us so angry we just wanted to scream. Having self-management means having self-control in extremely high-stress or frustrating situations and not letting yourself fly off the handle, but it is also more than that. Effective self-management is a daily recurring skill to have self-control by putting momentary needs on hold to achieve long-term goals and objectives.
Social awareness involves understanding other people’s emotional states and recognizing what they are feeling and thinking. It is also about understanding team dynamics and the complexity of relationships between other people and with yourself. Social awareness requires a strong ability to actively listen and observe other people. This means not just to hear what someone is saying, but to read into their words and body language to assess their emotions and practice empathy. Active listening establishes a mutual understanding where both you as the listener and the person speaking both know that you understand what is being communicated through reflecting, summarizing, paraphrasing, and asking questions.
Relationship management is the final and possibly the most complex component of emotional intelligence because it applies all three of the other components. It is the ability to successfully manage your interactions with others by leveraging your knowledge of your own and other’s emotions. If you effectively manage relationships, you will see the value in connecting with various types of people including those you may not particularly care for. This includes conflict management, which is the ability to openly and effectively communicate and resolve challenges with other people. Relationship management also involves building trust with others with frequent, high-quality interactions through being authentic, transparent, and understanding.
Emotional intelligence is significantly more influential than cognitive intelligence when it comes to job satisfaction and career success. Many jobs in today’s organizations are in team environments that are fast-paced, highly interdependent, and require close personal interactions on a daily basis. Whether working as a leader, a coach, a mentor, a coworker, or a team member, emotional intelligence plays a vital role in our success as an organization, team, and individuals. Take some time to think about your skills in the four components of emotional intelligence. Are there areas where you can improve your skills or relationships you would like to build or strengthen? Take some time each day to observe your emotional state and assess the emotional state of your coworkers. Keep your long-term goals in mind, and remember that you can be proactive by choosing your attitude and interacting with and influencing others.
References
Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. Basic Books.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. Bantam Books.
Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2008). Emotional intelligence: New ability or eclectic traits? American Psychologist, 63(6), 503-517.
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185-211.