Emotional Intelligence The value of Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence (EQ) helps us becoming more productive and successful, it decreases conflict, building stronger relationships and increasing harmony..  Take the Emotional Intelligence assessment Learn more about emotional Intelligence.. Definition of Emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence was developed by Howard Gardener, professor at Harvard University. It is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage your emotions in positive and constructive ways. It's about recognizing your own emotional state and the emotional states of others. Emotional intelligence is also about engaging with others in ways that draw people to you. Emotional intelligence consists of four core abilities: Self-awareness – The ability to recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behaviour, know your strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence. Self-management – The ability to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances. Social awareness – The ability to understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization. Relationship management – The ability to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict. Overview The Emotional Quotient concept argues that IQ, or conventional intelligence, is too narrow; that there are wider areas of Emotional Intelligence that dictate and enable how successful we are. Success requires more than IQ (Intelligence Quotient), which has tended to be the traditional measure of intelligence, ignoring essential behavioural and character elements. We've all met people who are academically brilliant and yet are socially and inter-personally inept. And we know that despite possessing a high IQ rating, success does not automatically follow. There is quite a huge debate about the validity of Emotional Intelligences, but surely it addresses a serious need and there is nothing better yet. Emotional Intelligence - EQ - is a relatively recent behavioural model, rising to prominence with Daniel Goleman's 1995 Book called 'Emotional Intelligence'. The early Emotional Intelligence theory was originally developed during the 1970s and 80s by the work and writings of psychologists Howard Gardner (Harvard), Peter Salovey (Yale) and John 'Jack' Mayer (New Hampshire). Emotional Intelligence is increasingly relevant to organizational development and developing people, because the EQ principles provide a new way to understand and assess people's behaviours, management styles, attitudes, interpersonal skills, and potential. Emotional Intelligence is an important consideration in human resources planning, job profiling, recruitment interviewing and selection, management development, customer relations and customer service, and more. This is the essential premise of EQ: to be successful requires the effective awareness, control and management of one's own emotions, and those of other people. EQ embraces two aspects of intelligence: Understanding yourself, your goals, intentions, responses, behaviour and all. Understanding others, and their feelings. Emotional intelligence - the five domains Goleman identified the five 'domains' of EQ as: 1. Knowing your emotions. 2. Managing your own emotions. 3. Motivating yourself. 4. Recognising and understanding other people's emotions. 5. Managing relationships, ie., managing the emotions of others. What is the benefit? Emotional Intelligence embraces and draws from numerous other branches of behavioural, emotional and communications theories, such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Transactional Analysis, and empathy. By developing our Emotional Intelligence in these areas and the five EQ domains we can become more productive and successful at what we do, and help others to be more productive and successful too. The process and outcomes of Emotional Intelligence development also contain many elements known to reduce stress for individuals and organizations, by decreasing conflict, improving relationships and understanding, and increasing stability, continuity and harmony. Five Key Skills for Raising Your Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a different type of intelligence. It’s about being ―heart smart,‖ not just ―book smart.‖ The evidence shows that emotional intelligence matters just as much as intellectual ability, if not more so, when it comes to happiness and success in life. Emotional intelligence helps you build strong relationships, succeed at work, and achieve your goals. The skills of emotional intelligence can be developed throughout life. You can boost your own ―EQ‖ by learning how to rapidly reduce stress, connect to your emotions, communicate nonverbally, use humor and play to deal with challenges, and defuse conflicts with confidence and self-assurance. How to raise your emotional intelligence Skill 1: Rapidly reduce stress Skill 2: Connect to your emotions Skill 3: Improve nonverbal communication Skill 4: Use humor to deal with challenges Skill 5: Resolve conflict positively Emotional development: How to raise your emotional intelligence Most of us know that there is a world of difference between knowledge and behavior, or applying that knowledge to make changes in our lives. There are many things we may know and want to do, but don’t or can’t when we’re under pressure. This is especially true when it comes to emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is not learned in the standard intellectual way; it must be learned and understood on an emotional level. We can’t simply read about emotional intelligence or master it through memorization. In order to learn about emotional intelligence in a way that produces change, we need to engage the emotional parts of the brain in ways that connect us to others. This kind of learning is based on what we see, hear, and feel. Intellectual understanding is an important first step, but the development of emotional intelligence depends on sensory, nonverbal learning and real-life practice. Developing emotional intelligence through five key skills: Emotional intelligence consists of five key skills, each building on the last: Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 1: The ability to quickly reduce stress. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 2: The ability to recognize and manage your emotions. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 3: The ability to connect with others using nonverbal communication. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 4: The ability to use humor and play to deal with challenges. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 5: The ability to resolve conflicts positively and with confidence. The five skills of emotional intelligence can be learned by anyone, at anytime. But there is a difference between learning about emotional intelligence and applying that knowledge to your life. Just because you know you should do something doesn’t mean you will—especially when you’re feeling stressed. This is especially true when it comes to the skills of emotional intelligence. Raising your emotional intelligence by engaging your emotions When you become overwhelmed by stress, the emotional parts of your brain override the rational parts—hijacking your best-laid plans, intentions, and strategies. In order to permanently change behavior in ways that stand up under pressure, you need to learn how to take advantage of the powerful emotional parts of the brain that remain active and accessible even in times of stress. This means that you can’t simply read about emotional intelligence in order to master it. You have to learn the skills on a deeper, emotional level—experiencing and practicing them in your everyday life. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 1: Rapidly reduce stress When we’re under high levels of stress, rational thinking and decision making go out the window. Runaway stress overwhelms the mind and body, getting in the way of our ability to accurately ―read‖ a situation, hear what someone else is saying, be aware of our own feelings and needs, and communicate clearly. The first key skill of emotional intelligence is the ability to quickly calm yourself down when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Being able to manage stress in the moment is the key to resilience. This emotional intelligence skill helps you stay balanced, focused, and in control–no matter what challenges you face. Stress busting: functioning well in the heat of the moment Develop your stress busting skills by working through the following three steps: Realize when you’re stressed – The first step to reducing stress is recognizing what stress feels like. Many of us spend so much time in an unbalanced state that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to be calm and relaxed. Identify your stress response – Everyone reacts differently to stress. Do you tend to space out and get depressed? Become angry and agitated? Freeze with anxiety? The best way to quickly calm yourself depends on your specific stress response. Discover the stress busting techniques that work for you – The best way to reduce stress quickly is through the senses: through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. But each person responds differently to sensory input, so you need to find things that are soothing to you. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 2: Connect to your emotions The second key skill of emotional intelligence is having a moment-to-moment awareness of your emotions and how they influence your thoughts and actions. Emotional awareness is the key to understanding yourself and others. Many people are disconnected from their emotions–especially strong core emotions such as anger, sadness, fear, and joy. But although we can distort, deny, or numb our feelings, we can’t eliminate them. They’re still there, whether we’re aware of them or not. Unfortunately, without emotional awareness, we are unable to fully understand our own motivations and needs, or to communicate effectively with others. What kind of a relationship do you have with your emotions? Do you experience feelings that flow, encountering one emotion after another as your experiences change from moment to moment? Are your emotions accompanied by physical sensations that you experience in places like your stomach or chest? Do you experience discrete feelings and emotions, such as anger, sadness, fear, joy, each of which is evident in subtle facial expressions? Can you experience intense feelings that are strong enough to capture both your attention and that of others? Do you pay attention to your emotions? Do they factor into your decision making? If any of these experiences are unfamiliar, your emotions may be turned down or turned off. In order to be emotionally healthy and emotionally intelligent, you must reconnect to your core emotions, accept them, and become comfortable with them. Emotional intelligence skill (EQ) 3: Nonverbal communication Being a good communicator requires more than just verbal skills. Oftentimes, what we say is less important than how we say it or the other nonverbal signals we send out. In order to hold the attention of others and build connection and trust, we need to be aware of and in control of our nonverbal cues. We also need to be able to accurately read and respond to the nonverbal cues that other people send us. Nonverbal communication is the third skill of emotional intelligence. This wordless form of communication is emotionally driven. It asks the questions: ―Are you listening?‖ and ―Do you understand and care?‖ Answers to these questions are expressed in the way we listen, look, move, and react. Our nonverbal messages will produce a sense of interest, trust, excitement, and desire for connection–or they will generate fear, confusion, distrust, and disinterest. Part of improving nonverbal communication involves paying attention to: Eye contact Facial expression Tone of voice Posture and gesture Touch Timing and pace Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 4: Use humor and play to deal with challenges Humor, laughter, and play are natural antidotes to life’s difficulties. They lighten our burdens and help us keep things in perspective. A good hearty laugh reduces stress, elevates mood, and brings our nervous system back into balance. The ability to deal with challenges using humor and play is the fourth skill of emotional intelligence. Playful communication broadens our emotional intelligence and helps us: Take hardships in stride. By allowing us to view our frustrations and disappointments from new perspectives, laughter and play enable us to survive annoyances, hard times, and setbacks. Smooth over differences. Using gentle humor often helps us say things that might be otherwise difficult to express without creating a flap. Simultaneously relax and energize ourselves. Playful communication relieves fatigue and relaxes our bodies, which allows us to recharge and accomplish more. Become more creative. When we loosen up, we free ourselves of rigid ways of thinking and being, allowing us to get creative and see things in new ways. Emotional intelligence (EQ) skill 5: Resolve conflict positively Conflict and disagreements are inevitable in relationships. Two people can’t possibly have the same needs, opinions, and expectations at all times. However, that needn’t be a bad thing! Resolving conflict in healthy, constructive ways can strengthen trust between people. When conflict isn’t perceived as threatening or punishing, it fosters freedom, creativity, and safety in relationships. The ability to manage conflicts in a positive, trust-building way is the fifth key skill of emotional intelligence. Successfully resolving differences is supported by the previous four skills of emotional intelligence. Once you know how to manage stress, stay emotionally present and aware, communicate nonverbally, and use humor and play, you’ll be better equipped to handle emotionallycharged situations and catch and defuse many issues before they escalate. Tips for resolving conflict in a trust-building way: Stay focused in the present. When we are not holding on to old hurts and resentments, we can recognize the reality of a current situation and view it as a new opportunity for resolving old feelings about conflicts. Choose your arguments. Arguments take time and energy, especially if you want to resolve them in a positive way. Consider what is worth arguing about and what is not. Forgive. If you continue to be hurt or mistreated, protect yourself. But someone else’s hurtful behavior is in the past, remember that conflict resolution involves giving up the urge to punish. End conflicts that can't be resolved. It takes two people to keep an argument going. You can choose to disengage from a conflict, even if you still disagree. helpguide.org/mental/eq5_raising_emotional_intelligence.htm www.thomasarmstrong.com Related topics and stories: The movie ―Mozart and the Whale‖ show the discrimination between merely intelligences of a group of autistic people some with islands of geniality living together. When 2 of the people got into an intimate relationship, the couple became dysfunctional and lose touch with reality. Emotional Intelligences is an integration of balanced intelligences. This story in some way with the extreme reactions makes an appeal to us that we also lose touch with reality, if we do not integrate our areas of giftedness! Dr Howard Gardner discern 7 emotional Intelligences 1. Verbal: the ability to use words 2. Visual: the ability to see things in your mind 3. Physical: the ability to use your body well 4. Musical: the ability to understand and use music 5. Mathematical / Logical: the ability to apply logic 6. Intrapersonal: the ability to understand thoughts and feelings 7. Interpersonal: the ability to relate well to others, or ―people smarts‖ Dr Thomas Armstrong www.thomasarmstrong.com refer idiomatically to this emotional intelligences as Linguistic intelligence ("word smart") Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart") Spatial intelligence ("picture smart") Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart") Musical intelligence ("music smart") Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart") Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart") Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart") Recent development on the Intelligences is the adding of an eight intelligence ; inter-cultural intelligence. (Dr Gustav Gouws) www.knowledgeworkx.com/html/index.htm 8 “To create new cultural spaces to facilitate win-win solutions, by anticipating, correctly interpreting, and adjusting to the culturally defined behavioral habits of others”