emotional intelligence easy essay

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Mia Belle Frothingham

Author, Researcher, Science Communicator

BA with minors in Psychology and Biology, MRes University of Edinburgh

Mia Belle Frothingham is a Harvard University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Sciences with minors in biology and psychology

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Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and relationships. It involves being aware of emotions in oneself and others and using this awareness to guide thinking and behavior. Emotionally intelligent individuals can motivate themselves, read social cues, and build strong relationships

Some researchers propose that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others argue it is an inborn characteristic.

The ability to express and manage emotions is essential, but so is the ability to understand, diagnose, and react to the emotions of others. Imagine a world in which one could not understand when a friend felt sad or a classmate was angry.

Why is Emotional Intelligence Critical?

Emotional Intelligence is the “ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior” (Salovey and Mayer, 1990).

Having a higher level of emotional intelligence allows one to empathize with others, communicate effectively, and be both self and socially aware. How people respond to themselves and others impacts all types of environments.

Living in this world signifies interacting with many diverse kinds of individuals and constant change with life-changing surprises.

Being emotionally intelligent is key to how one reacts to what life throws. It is furthermore a fundamental element of compassion and comprehending the deeper reasons behind other people’s actions.

It is not the most intelligent people who are the most prosperous or the most fulfilled in life. Many people are academically genius and yet are socially incompetent and unsuccessful in their careers or their intimate relationships.

Intellectual ability or intelligence quotient (IQ) is not enough on its own to achieve success in life. Undoubtedly, IQ can help one get into university, but your Emotional Intelligence (EI) will help one manage stress and emotions when facing final exams.

IQ and EI exist in tandem and are most influential when they build off one another.

Emotional intelligence is also valuable for leaders who set the tone of their organization. If leaders lack emotional intelligence , it could have more far-reaching consequences, resulting in lower worker engagement and a higher turnover rate.

While one might excel at one’s job technically, if one cannot effectively communicate with one’s team or collaborate with others, those specialized skills will get neglected.

By mastering emotional intelligence, one can positively impact anywhere and continue to advance one’s position and career in life. EI is vital when dealing with stressful situations like confrontation, change, and obstacles.

Emotional intelligence helps one build stronger relationships, succeed at work or school, and achieve one’s career and personal goals, as well as reduce group stress, defuse conflict, and enhance job satisfaction.

It can also help connect with one’s inner feelings, turn purpose into action, and make informed decisions about what matters most to oneself.

During these times, it is essential to remember to practice kindness, and being in touch with our emotions can help us do just that.

Examples of Emotional Intelligence

How does one become emotionally intelligent? Below we will discuss what one can do to learn to improve the skills that are behind emotional intelligence (EI).

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize the meanings of emotions and to reason and problem-solve based on them (Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 1999).

By working on and improving these skills, one can become more emotionally intelligent and, therefore, more successful!

Emotional Awareness and Understanding

Self-awareness, or the ability to recognize and comprehend one’s own emotions, is a vital emotional intelligence skill. Beyond acknowledging one’s feelings, however, is being conscious of the effect of one’s actions, moods, and emotions on other people.

According to research by Tasha Eurich, an organizational psychologist, 95% of individuals believe they are self-aware. Still, only 10 to 15 percent genuinely are, which can cause problems for the people one interacts with.

Being with people who are not self-aware can be frustrating and lead to increased stress and decreased encouragement.

To become self-aware, one must be capable of monitoring one’s emotions while recognizing different emotional reactions and correctly identifying each distinct emotion.

Self-aware individuals also can recognize the connections between the things they feel and how they act.

These individuals also acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses, are open to new data and experiences, and learn from their exchanges with others.

Furthermore, people who maintain self-awareness have a fine sense of humor, are confident in themselves and their capabilities, and know how others perceive them.

Here are some tips on improving one’s self-awareness:

Ask for constructive feedback from others.

Keep a journal of one’s thoughts and feelings.

Practice mindfulness – try meditating.

Pay careful attention to one’s thoughts and emotions.

Pursue one’s passions and do what makes one happy.

Learn new skills and set goals for oneself.

Reflect on one’s experiences and be grateful.

Use positive self-talk daily.

Work on building a growth mindset.

Emotional Self Regulation (Managing Emotions)

In addition to being aware of one’s own emotions and the impact one has on others, emotional intelligence requires one to regulate and manage one’s emotions .

This does not mean taking emotions out of sight and essentially “locking” them away, hence hiding one’s true feelings. It just means waiting for the right time and place to express them. Self-regulation is all about communicating one’s emotions appropriately in context. A reaction tends to be involuntary.

The more in tune one is with one’s emotional intelligence, the easier one can transition from an instant reaction to a well-thought-out response. It is crucial to remember to pause, breathe, compose oneself, and do what it takes to manage one’s emotions.

This could mean anything to oneself, like taking a walk or talking to a friend, so that one can more appropriately and intentionally respond to tension and adversity.

Those proficient in self-regulation tend to be flexible and acclimate well to change. They are also suitable for handling conflict and diffusing uncomfortable or difficult situations.

People with healthy self-regulation skills also tend to have heightened conscientiousness. They reflect on how they influence others and take accountability for their actions.

Here are some tips on improving one’s self-regulation:

Look at challenges as opportunities.

Be mindful of thoughts and feelings.

Build distress and anxiety tolerance skills.

Work on accepting reflections and emotions.

Find ways to manage difficult emotions.

Practice communication and social skills.

Recognize that one has a choice in how one responds.

Use cognitive reframing to change emotional responses and thought patterns.

Social Empathy (Perceiving Emotions)

Empathy , or the capability to comprehend how other people are feeling, is crucial to perfecting emotional intelligence.

However, it involves more than just being able to identify the emotional states of others. It also affects one’s responses to people based on this knowledge.

How does one respond when one senses someone is feeling sad or hopeless? One might treat them with extra care and consideration, or one might make a push to lift their mood.

Being empathetic also allows one to understand the authority dynamics that frequently influence social relationships, especially in the workplace.

This is essential for guiding one’s daily interactions with various people. In fact, it is found that empathy ranks as the number one leadership skill.

Leaders proficient in empathy perform more than 40% higher in coaching, engaging others, and decision-making. In a different study, researchers found that leaders who show more empathy toward their co-workers and constructive criticism are viewed as better performers by their supervisors.

Those competent in this element can recognize who maintains power in different relationships. They also understand how these forces impact feelings and behaviors. Because of this, they can accurately analyze different situations that hinge on such power dynamics.

Here are some tips on improving social empathy:

Be willing to share emotions.

Listen to other people.

Practice meditation.

Engage in a purpose like a community project.

Meet and talk to new people.

Try to imagine yourself in someone else’s place.

Social Skills (Using Emotions)

The ability to interact well with others is another vital aspect of emotional intelligence. Solid social skills allow people to build meaningful relationships with others and develop a more robust understanding of themselves and others.

Proper emotional understanding involves more than just understanding one’s own emotions and those of others. One also needs to put this information to work in one’s daily interactions and communications.

In the workplace or professional settings, managers benefit by being able to build relationships and connections with employees.

Workers benefit from developing a solid rapport with leaders and co-workers. Some prefer to avoid conflict, but it is crucial to address issues as they arise correctly.

Research shows that every unaddressed conflict can waste almost eight hours of company time on unproductive activities, damaging resources and morale. Essential social skills include active listening , verbal communication, nonverbal communication, leadership , and persuasiveness.

Here are some tips on improving social skills:

Ask open-ended questions.

Find icebreakers that will help start conversations.

Practice good eye contact.

Practice active listening with the entire body.

Notice other people’s social skills.

Show interest in others and ask them personal questions.

Watch one’s body language and that of others.

In The Workplace

Emotional intelligence includes showing genuine compassion, empathizing with the needs of individuals, and encouraging the ongoing personal growth of individuals.

When a leader takes into account the emotions of their followers, they then learn how to best engage with them.

1. Lending a Compassionate Ear to a Frustrated Co-Worker

Employees will inevitably get upset, have bad moods, argue, and just generally have bad days. In practice, compassion, understanding, and awareness are definite signs of emotional intelligence.

Awareness of and reacting to other people’s emotional states shows an understanding that all humans experience intense emotions and says that a person’s feelings matter.

2. Listening to Others Respectfully

Ever been to a conference when it seems like everyone is speaking over each other, trying to get the last word?

This is not only an indication of egos taking over and a lack of consideration for others; these are also indications of there being a lack of emotional intelligence.

When individuals are allowed to speak, and others listen without persistent interruptions, it is a good sign of EI. It shows reciprocal respect between parties and is more likely to lead to a productive conclusion in meetings.

3. Being Flexible

Flexibility is a critical term in organizations today. Building flexibility into how people function can be the difference between keeping the best workers and drifting out the door.

Emotionally intelligent leaders comprehend the changing needs of others and are ready to work with them rather than attempting to impose rigid restrictions on how people go about their work.

They do not expect everyone to work the hours they do, hold the same priorities, or live by precisely the same values.

In Healthcare

1. being patient with hurting individuals.

When in healthcare, it is expected that doctors and nurses will have to manage people in pain. Emotional intelligence not only allows for better patient care but also for better self-care.

For instance, if a patient is lashing out, and one can see that they are in pain, one will be far less likely to take their combativeness personally and treat them better.

2. Acting as the Effective Leader

In healthcare, there is a necessity to have influential leaders, a trusting environment with a helpful team, critical thinking, and quality patient and family-centered care.

A higher emotional intelligence will allow healthcare professionals to respond and react better to patients. Studies have shown a correlation between emotional intelligence and positive patient outcomes.

3. Responding Better to Stressful Situations

Multiple occasions in healthcare involve an urgent situation involving a life or death scenario. Doctors and nurses must check their own emotions.

Being in healthcare is a highly emotional career, and being aware of your feelings when they come up is key to effective self-care.

Interacting with patients can cause overwhelming joy or deep sadness, and these fluctuations can be utterly exhausting.

The ability to deal with these feelings, take breaks, and ask for help when you need it is another example of good emotional intelligence that nurses should practice.

Tips for Improving EI

Be more self-aware.

Awareness of one’s emotions and emotional responses to others can significantly improve one’s emotional intelligence. Knowing when one is feeling anxious or angry can help process and communicate those feelings in a way that promotes healthy results.

Recognize how others feel

Emotional intelligence could start with self-reflection, but measuring how others perceive one’s behavior and communication is essential. Adjusting one’s message based on how one is being received is an integral part of being emotionally intelligent.

Practice active listening

People communicate verbally and nonverbally, so listening and monitoring for potentially positive and negative reactions is essential. Taking the time to hear others also demonstrates a level of respect that can form the basis for healthy relationships.

Communicate clearly

Solid communication skills are critical for emotional intelligence. Knowing what to express or write and when to offer information is crucial for building strong relationships.

For instance, as a manager in a work environment, communicating expectations and goals is required to keep everyone on the same page.

Stay positive

A positive attitude is incredibly infectious. Emotionally intelligent people comprehend the power of positive words, encouraging emails, and friendly gestures. When one can also remain positive in a stressful situation, one can help others stay calm. It can also encourage further problem-solving and collaboration.

Thinking about how others might be feeling is an essential quality of emotional intelligence. It means you can empathize with feelings that one may not be feeling oneself and respond in a way that is respectful and relaxing to others.

Be open-minded

Emotionally intelligent people are comfortable to approach because they are good listeners and can consider and understand other viewpoints. They are also receptive to learning new things and embracing novel ideas.

Listen to feedback

It is essential to be the type of person who can hear feedback, whether it is positive on a recent presentation or more critical advice on how you should commission tasks more efficiently.

Being receptive to feedback means taking responsibility for one’s actions and being willing to improve how one communicates with others.

Stay calm under pressure

It is essential to approach stressful situations with a calm and positive attitude. Pressures can quickly escalate, primarily when people are operating under deadlines, so keeping steady and concentrating on finding a solution will help everyone complete their goals.

History of Emotional Intelligence

In the 1930s, psychologist Edward Thorndike explained the concept of “social intelligence” as the ability to get along with other individuals.

During the 1940s, psychologist David Wechsler suggested that different practical elements of intelligence could play a critical role in how successful people are in life.

In the 1950s, the school of thought was known as humanistic psychology, and scholars such as Abraham Maslow concentrated attention on how people could build emotional strength.

Another critical concept to arise in the development of emotional intelligence was the concept of multiple intelligences . This idea was put forth in the mid-1970s by Howard Gardner, presenting the idea that intelligence was more than just a single, broad capacity.

Emotional intelligence did not come into our vernacular until around 1990. The term “emotional intelligence” was first utilized in 1985 as it was presented in a doctoral dissertation by Wayne Payne.

In 1987, there was an article written by Keith Beasley and published in Mensa Magazine that used the term emotional quotient or EQ.

Then in 1990, psychologists John Mayer and Peter Salovey published their milestone article, Emotional Intelligence , in the journal Imagination, Cognition, and Personality .

They described emotional intelligence as the capability to monitor one’s and others’ feelings and emotions, discriminate among them, and use this knowledge to guide one’s thinking and actions.

Salovey and Mayer also initiated a research study to develop accurate measures of emotional intelligence and explore its significance. For example, they found in one investigation that when a group of people saw an upsetting film, those who ranked high on emotional clarity, or the ability to recognize and label a mood that is being experienced, recovered more quickly.

In a different study, people who scored higher in the ability to perceive accurately, understand and appraise others’ emotions were sufficiently capable of responding flexibly to changes in their social environments and building supportive social networks.

But despite it being a relatively new term, attraction to the concept has grown tremendously. In 1995, the concept of emotional intelligence was popularized after the publication of Daniel Goleman’s book  Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is emotional intelligence important in the workplace.

Researchers have indicated that emotional intelligence influences how excellently employees interact with their colleagues, and EI is also considered to play a role in how employees manage stress and conflict.

It also affects overall performance on the job. Other studies have connected emotional intelligence with job satisfaction.

Studies have shown that workers with higher scores on measures of EI also tend to be ranked higher on criteria of interpersonal functioning, leadership abilities, and stress management.

While standard intelligence was associated with leadership success, it alone was not enough. People who are prosperous at work are not just brilliant; they also have a high EI.

But emotional intelligence is not simply for CEOs and senior executives.

It is a quality that is essential at every level of a person’s career, from university students looking for internships to seasoned workers hoping to take on a leadership role.

Emotional intelligence is critical to success if one wants to succeed in the workplace and move up the career ladder.

Can emotional intelligence be taught?

As it turns out, the question whether emotional intelligence can be learned is not a straightforward one to answer.

Some psychologists and researchers claim that emotional intelligence is a skill that is not quickly learned or improved. Other psychologists and researchers, though, believe it can be improved with practice.

One key to improving EI is sustained practice – especially in high-stakes situations. Referring back to the above tips, one could read them and say those guidelines are pretty straightforward.

But, the challenging task is to do these practices in real-time and consistently. It takes practice to develop these skills. Then as you acquire them, you have to rehearse them under stress.

Can emotional intelligence be measured?

Several different assessments have arisen to gauge levels of emotional intelligence. These trials typically fall into one of two types: self-report tests and ability tests.

Self-report tests are the most abundant because they are the quickest to administer and score. Respondents respond to questions or statements on such tests by rating their behaviors.

For example, on a comment such as “I sense that I understand how others are feeling,” a test-taker might describe the statement as strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree.

On the other hand, ability tests involve people responding to situations and assessing their skills. These tests often require people to demonstrate their abilities, which a third party rates.

If one is taking an emotional intelligence trial issued by a mental health professional, here are two measures that could be used: Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI).

What is the dark side of emotional intelligence?

The dark side of emotional intelligence is using one’s understanding of emotions manipulatively, to deceive, control, or exploit others.

High emotional intelligence can mask hidden agendas, enabling insincere charm or feigned empathy, potentially leading to deceitful or self-serving actions.

Boyatzis, R. E., & Goleman, D. (2011). Emotional and social competency inventory (ESCI): A user guide for accredited practitioners.  Retrieved December ,  17 , 2019.

Eurich, T. (2018). What self-awareness really is (and how to cultivate it).  Harvard Business Review , 1-9.

Gardner, H. E. (2000). Intelligence reframed: Multiple intelligences for the 21st century . Hachette UK.

Goleman, D. (1996).  Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ . Bloomsbury Publishing.

Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., & Salovey, P. (1999). Emotional intelligence meets traditional standards for an intelligence.  Intelligence, 27 (4), 267-298.

Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1993). The intelligence of emotional intelligence.  Intelligence, 17 (4), 433-442.

Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (2007).  Mayer-Salovery-Caruso emotional intelligence test . Toronto: Multi-Health Systems Incorporated.

Payne, W. L. (1985). A study of emotion: developing emotional intelligence; self-integration; relating to fear, pain and desire.

Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence .  Imagination, cognition and personality ,  9 (3), 185-211.

Thorndike, R. L., & Stein, S. (1937). An evaluation of the attempts to measure social intelligence.  Psychological Bulletin ,  34 (5), 275.

Wechsler, D., & Kodama, H. (1949).  Wechsler intelligence scale for children  (Vol. 1). New York: Psychological corporation.

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Emotional Intelligence: How We Perceive, Evaluate, Express, and Control Emotions

Is EQ more important than IQ?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig).

Hinterhaus Productions / Getty Images 

• How Do I Know If I'm Emotionally Intelligent?
• How It's Measured

Why Is Emotional Intelligence Useful?

• Ways to Practice
• Tips for Improving

Emotional intelligence (AKA EI or EQ for "emotional quotient") is the ability to perceive, interpret, demonstrate, control, evaluate, and use emotions to communicate with and relate to others effectively and constructively. This ability to express and control  emotions  is essential, but so is the ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. Some experts suggest that emotional intelligence is  more important than IQ  for success in life.

While being book-smart might help you pass tests, emotional intelligence prepares you for the real world by being aware of the feelings of others as well as your own feelings.

How Do I Know If I'm Emotionally Intelligent?

Some key signs and examples of emotional intelligence include:

• An ability to identify and describe what people are feeling
• An awareness of personal strengths and limitations
• Self-confidence and self-acceptance
• The ability to let go of mistakes
• An ability to accept and embrace change
• A strong sense of curiosity, particularly about other people
• Feelings of empathy and concern for others
• Showing sensitivity to the feelings of other people
• Accepting responsibility for mistakes
• The ability to manage emotions in difficult situations

How Is Emotional Intelligence Measured?

A number of different assessments have emerged to measure levels of emotional intelligence. Such tests generally fall into one of two types: self-report tests and ability tests.

Self-report tests are the most common because they are the easiest to administer and score. On such tests, respondents respond to questions or statements by rating their own behaviors. For example, on a statement such as "I often feel that I understand how others are feeling," a test-taker might describe the statement as disagree, somewhat disagree, agree, or strongly agree.

Ability tests, on the other hand, involve having people respond to situations and then assessing their skills. Such tests often require people to demonstrate their abilities, which are then rated by a third party.

If you are taking an emotional intelligence test administered by a mental health professional, here are two measures that might be used:

• Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) is an ability-based test that measures the four branches of Mayer and Salovey's EI model. Test-takers perform tasks designed to assess their ability to perceive, identify, understand, and manage emotions.
• Emotional and Social Competence Inventory (ESCI)   is based on an older instrument known as the Self-Assessment Questionnaire and involves having people who know the individual offer ratings of that person’s abilities in several different emotional competencies. The test is designed to evaluate the social and emotional abilities that help distinguish people as strong leaders.

There are also plenty of more informal online resources, many of them free, to investigate your emotional intelligence.

Try Our Free Emotional Intelligence Test

Our fast and free EQ test can help you determine whether or not your responses to certain situations in life indicate a high level of emotional intelligence:

What Are the 4 Components of Emotional Intelligence?

Researchers suggest that there are four different levels of emotional intelligence including emotional perception, the ability to reason using emotions, the ability to understand emotions, and the ability to manage emotions.  

• Perceiving emotions : The first step in understanding emotions is to perceive them accurately. In many cases, this might involve understanding nonverbal signals such as body language and facial expressions.
• Reasoning with emotions : The next step involves using emotions to promote thinking and cognitive activity. Emotions help prioritize what we pay attention and react to; we respond emotionally to things that garner our attention.
• Understanding emotions :   The emotions that we perceive can carry a wide variety of meanings. If someone is expressing angry emotions, the observer must interpret the cause of the person's anger and what it could mean. For example, if your boss is acting angry, it might mean that they are dissatisfied with your work, or it could be because they got a speeding ticket on their way to work that morning or that they've been fighting with their partner.
• Managing emotions : The ability to manage emotions effectively is a crucial part of emotional intelligence and the highest level. Regulating emotions and responding appropriately as well as responding to the emotions of others are all important aspects of emotional management.

Recognizing emotions - yours and theirs - can help you understand where others are coming from, the decisions they make, and how your own feelings can affect other people.

The four branches of this model are arranged by complexity with the more basic processes at the lower levels and the more advanced processes at the higher levels. For example, the lowest levels involve perceiving and expressing emotion, while higher levels require greater conscious involvement and involve regulating emotions.

Interest in teaching and learning social and emotional intelligence has grown in recent years. Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs have become a standard part of the curriculum for many schools.

The goal of these initiatives is not only to improve health and well-being but also to help students succeed academically and prevent bullying. There are many examples of how emotional intelligence can play a role in daily life.

Thinking Before Reacting

Emotionally intelligent people know that emotions can be powerful, but also temporary. When a highly charged emotional event happens, such as becoming angry with a co-worker, the emotionally intelligent response would be to take some time before responding.

This allows everyone to calm their emotions and think more rationally about all the factors surrounding the argument.

Greater Self-Awareness

Emotionally intelligent people are not only good at thinking about how other people might feel but they are also adept at understanding their own feelings. Self-awareness allows people to consider the many different factors that contribute to their emotions.

Empathy for Others

A large part of emotional intelligence is being able to think about and empathize with how other people are feeling. This often involves considering how you would respond if you were in the same situation.

People who have strong emotional intelligence are able to consider the perspectives, experiences, and emotions of other people and use this information to explain why people behave the way that they do.

How You Can Practice Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence can be used in many different ways in your daily life. Some different ways to practice emotional intelligence include:

• Being able to accept criticism and responsibility
• Being able to move on after making a mistake
• Being able to say no when you need to
• Being able to share your feelings with others
• Being able to solve problems in ways that work for everyone
• Having empathy for other people
• Having great listening skills
• Knowing why you do the things you do
• Not being judgemental of others

Emotional intelligence is essential for good interpersonal communication. Some experts believe that this ability is more important in determining life success than IQ alone. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to strengthen your own social and emotional intelligence.

Understanding emotions can be the key to better relationships, improved well-being, and stronger communication skills. 

Press Play for Advice On How to Be Less Judgmental

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast , shares how you can learn to be less judgmental. Click below to listen now.

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Are There Downsides to Emotional Intelligence?

Having lower emotional intelligence skills can lead to a number of potential pitfalls that can affect multiple areas of life including work and relationships. People who have fewer emotional skills tend to get in more arguments, have lower quality relationships, and have poor emotional coping skills.

Being low on emotional intelligence can have a number of drawbacks, but having a very high level of emotional skills can also come with challenges. For example:

• Research suggests that people with high emotional intelligence may actually be less creative and innovative.
• Highly emotionally intelligent people may have a hard time delivering negative feedback for fear of hurting other people's feelings.
• Research has found that high EQ can sometimes be used for manipulative and deceptive purposes.

Can I Boost My Emotional Intelligence?

While some people might come by their emotional skills naturally, some evidence suggests that this is an ability you can develop and improve. For example, a 2019 randomized controlled trial found that emotional intelligence training could improve emotional abilities in workplace settings.

Being emotionally intelligent is important, but what steps can you take to improve your own social and emotional skills? Here are some tips.

If you want to understand what other people are feeling, the first step is to pay attention. Take the time to listen to what people are trying to tell you, both verbally and non-verbally. Body language can carry a great deal of meaning. When you sense that someone is feeling a certain way, consider the different factors that might be contributing to that emotion.

Picking up on emotions is critical, but we also need to be able to put ourselves into someone else's shoes in order to truly understand their point of view. Practice empathizing with other people. Imagine how you would feel in their situation. Such activities can help us build an emotional understanding of a specific situation as well as develop stronger emotional skills in the long-term.

The ability to reason with emotions is an important part of emotional intelligence. Consider how your own emotions influence your decisions and behaviors. When you are thinking about how other people respond, assess the role that their emotions play.

Why is this person feeling this way? Are there any unseen factors that might be contributing to these feelings? How to your emotions differ from theirs? As you explore such questions, you may find that it becomes easier to understand the role that emotions play in how people think and behave.

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Salovey P, Mayer J. Emotional Intelligence . Imagination, Cognition, and Personality.  1990;9(3):185-211.

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Côté S, Decelles KA, Mccarthy JM, Van kleef GA, Hideg I. The Jekyll and Hyde of emotional intelligence: emotion-regulation knowledge facilitates both prosocial and interpersonally deviant behavior . Psychol Sci . 2011;22(8):1073-80. doi:10.1177/0956797611416251

Gilar-Corbi R, Pozo-Rico T, Sánchez B, Castejón JL. Can emotional intelligence be improved? A randomized experimental study of a business-oriented EI training program for senior managers . PLoS One . 2019;14(10):e0224254. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224254

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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124 Emotional Intelligence Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Emotional intelligence is a crucial skill that helps individuals navigate their emotions, understand others' feelings, and build healthy relationships. It involves being aware of one's emotions, managing them effectively, and empathizing with others.

If you're looking for inspiration for an essay on emotional intelligence, we've got you covered. Here are 124 emotional intelligence essay topic ideas and examples to help you get started:

• The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership
• How emotional intelligence affects workplace performance
• Strategies for developing emotional intelligence in children
• The role of emotional intelligence in conflict resolution
• The impact of emotional intelligence on mental health
• How emotional intelligence can improve communication skills
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on decision-making
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and self-esteem
• Emotional intelligence and academic success
• The connection between emotional intelligence and empathy
• How emotional intelligence can enhance teamwork
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in relationships
• Emotional intelligence and its role in stress management
• The impact of emotional intelligence on job satisfaction
• Strategies for improving emotional intelligence in the workplace
• Emotional intelligence and its link to resilience
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and emotional regulation
• The connection between emotional intelligence and social skills
• How emotional intelligence can help in conflict resolution
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on mental health disorders
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in academic settings
• Strategies for developing emotional intelligence in adolescents
• The connection between emotional intelligence and self-awareness
• How emotional intelligence can improve decision-making skills
• The impact of emotional intelligence on interpersonal relationships
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on job performance
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective communication
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in team dynamics
• Strategies for enhancing emotional intelligence in the family
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on conflict resolution in the workplace
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and emotional resilience
• How emotional intelligence can help in managing stress
• The connection between emotional intelligence and emotional regulation in children
• The role of emotional intelligence in building empathy
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on social skills development
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in parenting
• Strategies for improving emotional intelligence in the classroom
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on academic success
• The connection between emotional intelligence and self-esteem in teenagers
• How emotional intelligence can improve decision-making in adolescents
• The impact of emotional intelligence on peer relationships
• Emotional intelligence and its role in mental health promotion
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in conflict resolution in school
• Strategies for developing emotional intelligence in young adults
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on social-emotional learning
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and self-compassion
• How emotional intelligence can enhance emotional regulation skills
• The connection between emotional intelligence and emotional intelligence in the workplace
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective team communication
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on job satisfaction in the workplace
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in building positive workplace relationships
• Strategies for improving emotional intelligence in diverse work environments
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on employee engagement
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict resolution in the workplace
• How emotional intelligence can help in managing workplace stress
• The connection between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness
• The role of emotional intelligence in promoting a positive work culture
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on organizational performance
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in building strong team dynamics
• Strategies for enhancing emotional intelligence in leadership roles
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on employee retention
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and effective communication in the workplace
• How emotional intelligence can improve decision-making in a professional setting
• The connection between emotional intelligence and emotional regulation in the workplace
• The role of emotional intelligence in conflict resolution in a team setting
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on team collaboration
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in building trust among team members
• Strategies for improving emotional intelligence in a fast-paced work environment
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on employee well-being
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance
• How emotional intelligence can help in managing workplace conflicts
• The connection between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness in a global organization
• The role of emotional intelligence in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Emotional intelligence and its influence on employee morale
• The benefits of emotional intelligence in building strong client relationships
• Strategies for enhancing emotional intelligence in customer service roles
• Emotional intelligence and its impact on team productivity
• The relationship between emotional intelligence and

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Emotional intelligence - List of Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

An essay on emotional intelligence can explore the concept of emotional intelligence, its components, and its importance in personal and professional success. It can discuss how individuals can develop emotional intelligence skills, their role in leadership and relationships, and the impact of emotional intelligence on decision-making and well-being. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Emotional Intelligence you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Self-awareness as the Main Factor of Emotional Intelligence

Humans have complex emotions. For instance, sometimes, we learn about our emotions naturally. An example would be; when we feel hungry, so we eat, which you can see that there is a course of action in the sample model. Thus, once we fully learn to understand our emotions, it can help us to recognize our own actions or behavior, and that includes other people as well. Nowadays, the knowledge of Emotional intelligence has become a crucial skill. The ability to […]

Domains, Concept and Key Areas of Emotional Intelligence

The Meaning of Emotions Etymologically, the word emotion comes from the Latin "removere," which means "to move." It can also mean "to stir up," "agitate," or "excite." So, emotion is the moved or stirred-up state of a living being. It is a stirred-up state of feeling, which is how it appears to the individual himself. Definition: Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive and recognize emotions, assimilate feelings, and acknowledge the message and meaning of emotions. Different people have […]

Controlling myself and my Emotions

The scholar Howard Gardener states that there are multiple intelligences. “He described an individual’s cognitive abilities in terms of seven relatively independent but interacting intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinaesthetic, intrapersonal and interpersonal.” (IJCRSEE, 2016) The academic John Dewey, focuses more on intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences. Interpersonal refers to the understanding and the act of relating to other people, while Intrapersonal refers to introspection and self-reflection. Dewey believed that the human being has to interact with what surrounds him in […]

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Discussions on Measuring and Determining the Emotional Intelligence

Many specialized programs and curricula used in schools today have been inspired, in part, by emotional intelligence theory. They were created to help educators both understand and apply emotional and social intelligence in their schools, mainly for the purposes of preventing and managing behavioral issues as well as fostering safe and supportive learning environments. These programs help to address the emotional needs of the students, which literally helps to develop the architecture of their brains, making it possible for them […]

The Effects of Self-Talk on a Basketball Player’s Performance 

Two different professional basketball players step up to the free-throw line in a tied game with a few seconds left during the fourth quarter. The anxiety caused by the context of the situation stimulates the nervous system; therefore, the brain must be able to process the stimulation and allow these players to evaluate the situation. Athlete one, who consulted with a sports psychologist, was able to handle the pressure and help their team win the game. Athlete two, who did […]

The Meaning and Dimensions of Wisdom

The notion of wisdom has captivated the intellects of philosophers, scholars, and thinkers across epochs. At its essence, wisdom transcends mere cognition; it embodies the faculty to discern prudent courses of action and judgments grounded in erudition, experience, and a profound comprehension of life's intricacies. Yet, wisdom encompasses a breadth of attributes beyond intellect, encompassing perspicacity, empathy, and ethical discernment that steer one towards judicious conduct and mindful existence. A cardinal facet of wisdom lies in the aptitude to extrapolate […]

Understanding Emotional Labor and its Impact on Work and Life

Emotional labor, a concept pioneered by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in her seminal work "The Managed Heart" published in 1983, delineates the intricate process of managing sentiments and expressions to meet the emotional prerequisites of a vocation. This construct has since undergone evolution, enveloping a vast spectrum of professions and responsibilities, and accentuating the often-neglected demands imposed on individuals in both their occupational and personal spheres. At its core, emotive labor entails the regulation of affect to adhere to institutional expectations, […]

The INTJ Personality Type: the Architect’s Mind

The INTJ persona, often denoted as "The Architect," epitomizes one of the 16 personality archetypes elucidated by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This personality classification embodies a distinctive amalgamation of attributes shaping their worldview and interpersonal dynamics. Individuals embodying the INTJ persona are recognized for their strategic cogitation, autonomy, and an unswerving commitment to their objectives. Within this discourse, we shall delve into the fundamental characteristics, assets, and prospective hurdles encountered by INTJs. INTJs are primarily propelled by intuition and […]

Empathy: Understanding and Sharing the Feelings of Others

Empathy is a concept that's often thrown around in discussions about interpersonal relationships, but what does it really mean, and why is it important? At its heart, empathy is about understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It helps us connect more deeply with those around us by allowing us to step outside of our own experiences and see the world from another person's perspective. In a world that's increasingly polarized, empathy can serve as a bridge, helping us find […]

Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses: a Dual Approach to Self-Improvement

Recognizing our advantages and disadvantages is crucial as we continue to strive for both professional and personal development. This method helps us become more self-aware while also enabling us to improve the things we do well and address the areas in which we need improvement. Through self-evaluation, we can establish attainable objectives, cultivate improved connections, and eventually live a more satisfying life. Finding one's own abilities is frequently the most satisfying aspect of this evaluation. These are the traits and […]

Decoding Emotional Intelligence: Evaluations, Traps, and Forthcoming Avenues

Emotional acumen, often hailed as the cornerstone of interpersonal dynamics, has emerged as a central focus of contemporary discourse across diverse arenas. This enigmatic blend of self-awareness, empathy, and adept emotional management permeates myriad spheres, from personal relationships to professional realms, dictating success and fulfillment. Yet, amidst the clamor for its comprehension lies a labyrinth of assessment challenges, pitfalls, and the beckoning of uncharted territories. Embarking on the quest to gauge emotional intelligence unravels a tapestry woven with intricate threads […]

The Spectrum of Emotional Intelligence: a Journey into Human Understanding

In our quest to comprehend human cognition, the conventional lens of intelligence quotient (IQ) has long dominated. Yet, in the evolving narrative of human psychology, attention has shifted towards a more intricate and comprehensive concept: Emotional Intelligence (EI). Beyond the confines of IQ lies a vast spectrum of emotional acumen, encompassing the intricate interplay of self-awareness, empathy, and social adeptness. At the core of Emotional Intelligence lies the profound trait of self-awareness. This cornerstone attribute delves into the depths of […]

Connecting Cultures: the Power of Emotional Intelligence in Diplomacy

Hey there, fellow citizens! Today, let's chat about something that's close to my heart and crucial in today's interconnected world – emotional intelligence in cross-cultural diplomacy. Now, I know the term might sound a bit fancy, but bear with me – it's essentially about understanding and navigating emotions to build stronger connections between different cultures. In our fast-paced global landscape, where tweets and emojis often replace face-to-face conversations, the role of emotional intelligence in diplomacy can't be overstated. Gone are […]

Mastering the Money Game: how Emotional Intelligence our Financial Moves

Hey there, fellow citizens! Let's dive into something we all deal with – money. Now, I'm not about to hit you with some fancy financial jargon or bore you with complex theories. No, today, we're talking about the not-so-secret weapon we all have in our financial arsenal: emotional intelligence. So, what's emotional intelligence got to do with your bank balance? Turns out, quite a bit. Picture this: you're eyeing that shiny new gadget, and your gut says, "Go for it!" […]

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• Emotional Intelligence

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence is generally said to include a few skills: namely emotional awareness, or the ability to identify and name one’s own emotions; the ability to harness those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

• The Roots of Emotional Intelligence
• How to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence

The theory of emotional intelligence was introduced by Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer in the 1990s, and further developed and brought to the lay public by Daniel Goleman . The concept, also known as emotional quotient or EQ, has gained wide acceptance. However, some psychologists argue that because EQ cannot be captured via psychometric tests (as can, for example, general intelligence ), it lacks true explanatory power.

The emotionally intelligent are highly conscious of their own emotional states, even negative ones—from frustration or sadness to something more subtle. They are able to identify and understand what they are feeling, and being able to name an emotion helps manage that emotion . Because of this, the emotionally intelligent have high self-confidence and are realistic about themselves.

A person high in EQ is not impulsive or hasty with their actions. They think before they do. This translates into steady emotion regulation , or the ability to reduce how intense an emotion feels. Taking anger or anxiety down a notch is called down-regulation . The emotionally intelligent are able to shift gears and lighten mood, both internally and externally.

Such people are especially tuned into the emotions that others experience. It’s understandable that sensitivity to emotional signals both from within oneself and from one's social environment could make one a better friend, parent, leader , or romantic partner. Being in tune with others is less work for others.

This person is able to recognize and understand the emotions of others, a skill tied to empathy. The person with a high EQ can hear and understand another person’s point of view clearly. The empathic are generally supportive of the people in their lives, and they easily modulate their emotions to match the mood of another person as well.

This is a subject of active debate within the field. Some personality psychologists argue that emotional intelligence can be more parsimoniously described by traits such as agreeableness , and even charisma . A  highly charismatic person, for example, is socially adept and can quickly read a room.

We are naturally drawn to a person with high EQ. We are comfortable and at ease with their easy rapport. It feels as though they can read social cues with superhuman ability. Perhaps they can even mind-read how other people feel to some extent. This effortlessness is welcome in all domains of life—at home, in social settings, and at work. Who wouldn’t want a boss who understood how you are feeling and what you are trying to accomplish?

Yes, you can. You can start by learning to identify the emotions you are feeling as well as understanding them. If you are able to name the emotion you are feeling, you have a better chance of understanding what you are feeling. You can also learn to better regulate your emotions just by stopping and thinking before you act and judge. These skills will help you martial inner resolve and stick to what really matters in life.

While some studies have found a link between emotional intelligence and job performance, many others have shown no correlation whatsoever, and the lack of a scientifically valid scale makes it difficult to truly measure or predict how emotionally intuitive a person may be on the job or in other areas of life.

These people are able to mobilize and utilize their emotions, and they are motivated to manage tasks and problem-solve obstacles. They are connected to who they are and what they value in life, which are foundational for prioritizing and reaching any objective or goal. Knowing what matters is crucial for productivity .

In recent years, some employers have incorporated emotional intelligence tests into their application and interview processes, on the theory that someone high in emotional intelligence would make a better leader or coworker . However, it is not clear if these measures are accurate or even useful.

Testing for EQ in the workplace, for example, is difficult because there is no validated psychometric test or scale for emotional intelligence as there is for the general intelligence factor—and many argue that emotional intelligence is therefore not an actual construct, but a way of describing interpersonal skills.

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Essay on Emotional Intelligence

Students are often asked to write an essay on Emotional Intelligence in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Emotional Intelligence

What is emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is knowing and managing your feelings. It’s like being the boss of your emotions. You understand what you feel, why you feel it, and how your feelings can affect other people.

Why It’s Important

When you’re good at emotional intelligence, you can handle friendship problems better and not get too upset. It helps you deal with tough times without losing control and makes you a kinder person.

Learning About Feelings

You can grow your emotional intelligence by paying attention to your feelings and figuring out what causes them. Talking about emotions with friends or family can also help you understand them better.

Being a Good Friend

Emotional intelligence also means noticing how others feel. By seeing if a friend is sad or happy, you can decide the best way to help them or make them feel better.

Emotional Intelligence at School

In school, this skill can make learning easier. You stay calm during tests and work well with classmates on projects. Teachers and students get along better when everyone uses emotional intelligence.

250 Words Essay on Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence, or EI, is the ability to understand and manage your own feelings, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. Imagine it like a superpower that helps you get along with friends and deal with challenges calmly.

Knowing Your Feelings

The first part of EI is being aware of your own emotions. This means noticing what you’re feeling and why. It’s like being a detective of your own heart. When you know you’re feeling sad because you lost a game, that’s emotional intelligence at work.

Controlling Emotions

After you know what you’re feeling, the next step is handling those emotions without letting them get the best of you. For example, if you’re angry, instead of yelling, you might take deep breaths or count to ten. This keeps you in charge of your feelings.

Understanding Others

Emotional Intelligence also involves figuring out how others are feeling. This could mean noticing if a friend is upset even if they haven’t said anything. When you can tell how someone else is feeling, you can be a better friend and help them.

Influencing Emotions

Lastly, EI helps you help others with their feelings. If your friend is sad, you might try to cheer them up. By doing this, you’re using your EI to make a positive change in someone else’s day.

To sum up, Emotional Intelligence is like being a heart-smart person. It’s not just about being smart with books and numbers, but also with feelings. And the more you practice, the better you get at it!

500 Words Essay on Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions. It also involves noticing and influencing the feelings of others. Imagine it as a skill that helps us deal with the world of emotions just like we use our mind to solve math problems.

The first part of emotional intelligence is about being aware of your own emotions. It’s like having a little voice inside your head that tells you, “Hey, you’re feeling really happy because you scored well on a test!” or “You’re sad because you missed your friend.” Knowing what we feel helps us handle our emotions better.

Managing Emotions

Once we understand our emotions, the next step is to control them. This doesn’t mean hiding our feelings but rather not letting them control us. For example, if you’re angry, instead of yelling, you might take deep breaths or count to ten. This way, you’re in charge, not your anger.

Empathy: Feeling with Others

Emotional intelligence also means understanding how others feel. This is called empathy. When a friend is sad, and you understand and feel for them, that’s empathy. It’s like putting yourself in their shoes and seeing the world from their eyes.

Friendship Skills

Knowing about emotions helps us make and keep friends. It’s important in sharing, taking turns, and listening. When we can tell how our friends feel, we can be better friends. We can cheer them up when they’re down or enjoy happy times together.

Solving Problems

Emotions can sometimes create problems. Maybe two friends are fighting, or you’re nervous about a test. Emotional intelligence helps us solve these problems. It teaches us to talk about our feelings, not fight, and to face our fears instead of running away.

Learning and School

Believe it or not, emotional intelligence can even help with learning. When we’re calm and happy, we can focus better on our schoolwork. Also, by understanding our feelings, we can handle stress and not let it get in the way of homework or tests.

In the end, emotional intelligence is a key part of growing up and dealing with life. It’s not just about being smart in the head but also smart with the heart. When we understand and manage our emotions, we can make better choices, be good friends, and do well in school. It’s a skill that we keep improving all our lives, and it helps us become the best we can be.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Article • 9 min read

Emotional Intelligence

Developing strong "people skills".

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Key Takeaways

• Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize your emotions, understand what they're telling you, and realize how your emotions affect other people.
• There are five elements that define Emotional Intelligence: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social Skills.
• Emotionally intelligent people are masters at managing their emotions. The ability to stay calm and in control in difficult situations is highly valued
• Developing and using your emotional intelligence can be a good way to show others the leader inside of you.
• Emotional intelligence can be learned and developed

We probably all know people, either at work or in our personal lives, who are really good listeners. No matter what kind of situation we're in, they always seem to know just what to say – and how to say it – so that we're not offended or upset. They're caring and considerate, and even if we don't find a solution to our problem, we usually leave feeling more hopeful and optimistic.

We probably also know people who are masters at managing their emotions. They don't get angry in stressful situations. Instead, they have the ability to look at a problem and calmly find a solution. They're excellent decision makers, and they know when to trust their intuition. Regardless of their strengths, however, they're usually willing to look at themselves honestly. They take criticism well, and they know when to use it to improve their performance.

People like this have a high degree of emotional intelligence. They know themselves very well, and they're also able to sense the emotional needs of others.

Would you like to be more like this?

As more and more people accept that emotional intelligence is just as important to professional success as technical ability, organizations are increasingly using it when they hire and promote.

For example, one large cosmetics company recently revised their hiring process for salespeople to choose candidates based on their emotional intelligence. The result? People hired with the new system have sold, on average, $91,000 more than salespeople selected under the old system. There has also been significantly lower staff turnover among the group chosen for their emotional intelligence.

So, what exactly is emotional intelligence, and what can you do to improve yours?

What Is Emotional Intelligence?

We all have different personalities, different wants and needs, and different ways of showing our emotions. Navigating through this all takes tact and cleverness – especially if we hope to succeed in life. This is where emotional intelligence becomes important.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize your emotions, understand what they're telling you, and realize how your emotions affect people around you. It also involves your perception of others: when you understand how they feel, this allows you to manage relationships more effectively.

People with high emotional intelligence are usually successful in most things they do. Why? Because they're the ones that others want on their team. When people with high emotional intelligence send an email, it gets answered. When they need help, they get it. Because they make others feel good, they go through life much more easily than people who are easily angered or upset.

Characteristics of Emotional Intelligence

In his book titled "Emotional Intelligence - Why It Can Matter More Than IQ" 1995, Daniel Goleman , an American psychologist, developed a framework of five elements that define emotional intelligence:

• Self-Awareness – People with high emotional intelligence are usually very self-aware . They understand their emotions, and because of this, they don't let their feelings rule them. They're confident – because they trust their intuition and don't let their emotions get out of control. They're also willing to take an honest look at themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses, and they work on these areas so they can perform better. Many people believe that this self-awareness is the most important part of emotional intelligence.
• Self-Regulation – This is the ability to control emotions and impulses. People who self-regulate typically don't allow themselves to become too angry or jealous, and they don't make impulsive, careless decisions. They think before they act. Characteristics of self-regulation are thoughtfulness, comfort with change, integrity , and the ability to say no.
• Motivation – People with a high degree of emotional intelligence are usually motivated . They're willing to defer immediate results for long-term success. They're highly productive, love a challenge, and are very effective in whatever they do.
• Empathy – This is perhaps the second-most important element of emotional intelligence. Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand the wants, needs, and viewpoints of those around you. People with empathy are good at recognizing the feelings of others, even when those feelings may not be obvious. As a result, empathetic people are usually excellent at managing relationships , listening , and relating to others. They avoid stereotyping and judging too quickly, and they live their lives in a very open, honest way.
• Social Skills – It's usually easy to talk to and like people with good social skills, another sign of high emotional intelligence. Those with strong social skills are typically team players. Rather than focus on their own success first, they help others develop and shine. They can manage disputes, are excellent communicators, and are masters at building and maintaining relationships.

Terms reproduced by permission of Bloomsbury Press.

As you've probably determined, emotional intelligence can be a key to success in your life – especially in your career. The ability to manage people and relationships is very important in all leaders, so developing and using your emotional intelligence can be a good way to show others the leader inside of you.

How Do You Become Emotionally Intelligent?

The good news is that emotional intelligence can be learned and developed. As well as working on your skills in the five areas above, use these strategies:

• Observe how you react to people. Do you rush to judgment before you know all of the facts? Do you stereotype? Look honestly at how you think and interact with other people. Try to put yourself in their place , and be more open and accepting of their perspectives and needs.
• Look at your work environment. Do you seek attention for your accomplishments? Humility can be a wonderful quality, and it doesn't mean that you're shy or lack self-confidence. When you practice humility, you say that you know what you did, and you can be quietly confident about it. Give others a chance to shine – put the focus on them, and don't worry too much about getting praise for yourself.
• Do a self-evaluation. Try out our emotional intelligence quiz . What are your weaknesses? Are you willing to accept that you're not perfect and that you could work on some areas to make yourself a better person? Have the courage to look at yourself honestly – it can change your life.
• Examine how you react to stressful situations. Do you become upset every time there's a delay or something doesn't happen the way you want? Do you blame others or become angry at them, even when it's not their fault? The ability to stay calm and in control in difficult situations is highly valued – in the business world and outside it. Keep your emotions under control when things go wrong.
• Take responsibility for your actions. If you hurt someone's feelings, apologize directly – don't ignore what you did or avoid the person. People are usually more willing to forgive and forget if you make an honest attempt to make things right.
• Examine how your actions will affect others – before you take those actions. If your decision will impact others, put yourself in their place. How will they feel if you do this? Would you want that experience? If you must take the action, how can you help others deal with the effects?

What is Emotional Intelligence in Leadership?

To be effective, leaders must have a solid understanding of how their emotions and actions affect the people around them. The better a leader relates to and works with others, the more successful he or she will be.

Being an emotionally intelligent leader means you will be able to coach teams, manage stress, deliver feedback, and collaborate with others more effectively.

Why is Emotional Intelligence Important in Leadership?

For leaders, having Emotional Intelligence is essential for success. After all, who is more likely to succeed – a leader who shouts at their team when they are under stress, or a leader who stays in control, and calmly assesses the situation?

The more that you, as a leader, excel in each of Goleman's five key elements of Emotional Intelligence – self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills – the more effective as a leader you will be.

Leading With Emotional Intelligence

What leading with Emotional Intelligence means in practical terms is becoming a leader who brings the best out in people.

That happens when you really “connect” with people – and when it does, it can impact both engagement and productivity.

Four ways you can do this are:

• Be an active listener , so people know you value what they think
• Be empathetic , so people know you care
• Take time to understand what motivates your employees
• Get perspective by discovering where your employees are “coming from,” how their lived experiences can benefit your team and organization

For an in-depth explanation, see our article on Emotional Intelligence in Leadership for specific tips related to a leadership role.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emotional Intelligence

What are the top 5 characteristics of emotional intelligence in leaders.

The more that you, as a leader, excel in each of Goleman's five key elements of Emotional Intelligence the more effective as a leader you will be. These are:

• Self-awareness
• Self-regulation
• Social skills

What Are the Top Qualities of Leaders?

Leaders set direction and help themselves and others to do the right thing to move forward. To do this they:

• Create an inspiring vision
• Then motivate and inspire others to achieve it.
• They manage delivery of the vision, either directly or indirectly
• They build and coach their teams to make them ever stronger.
• They're flexible and adapt to their circumstances.

How Can You Improve Your Leadership Skills?

Successful leaders tend to have certain traits. Two keys areas of personal growth and development are fundamental to leadership success: self-confidence and a positive attitude .

Self-confident people are usually inspiring, and people like to be around individuals who believe in themselves and in what they're doing.

Likewise, if you're a positive and optimistic person who tries to make the best of any situation, you'll find it much easier to motivate people to do their best.

What are the 3 C's of Emotional Intelligence?

The main characteristics of Emotional Intelligence are sometimes reduced to three central ideas – the 3 C's:

• Consciousness – being mindful of your emotions, being self-aware so you can identify how your emotions impact others.
• Compassion – being empathetic towards others. Having the ability to identify with and understand the wants, needs, and viewpoints of those around you.
• Connectedness – the ability to get on with others. It's usually easy to talk to and like people with good social skills, another sign of high emotional intelligence.

Although "regular" intelligence is important to success in life, emotional intelligence is key to relating well to others and achieving your goals. Many people believe that it is at least as important as regular intelligence, and many companies now use emotional intelligence testing to hire new staff.

Emotional intelligence is an awareness of your actions and feelings – and how they affect those around you. It also means that you value others, listen to their wants and needs, and are able to empathize or identify with them on many different levels.

Goleman, D. (1995). ' Emotional Intelligence - Why it Can Matter More Than IQ .' London: Bantam.

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What is emotional intelligence (EQ)?

The importance of emotional intelligence (eq), building emotional intelligence: four key skills to increasing eq, skill 1: self-management to build eq, skill 2: self-awareness for eq, skill 3: social awareness for eq, skill 4: relationship management for eq, improving emotional intelligence (eq) manage emotions to build better relationships and achieve success.

Using these 4 key skills, you can improve your emotional intelligence, build stronger relationships, and reach your goals at work, school, and in your personal life.

Emotional intelligence (also known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.

Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals. It can also help you to connect with your feelings, turn intention into action, and make informed decisions about what matters most to you.

The 4 Key Skills to Emotional intelligence:

• Self-management . You’re able to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Self-awareness . You recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior. You know your strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence.
• Social awareness . You have empathy. You can 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 . You know how to develop and maintain good relationships, communicate clearly, inspire and influence others, work well in a team, and manage conflict.

As we know, it’s not the smartest people who are the most successful or the most fulfilled in life. You probably know people who are academically brilliant and yet are socially inept and unsuccessful at work or in their personal relationships. Intellectual ability or your intelligence quotient (IQ) isn’t enough on its own to achieve success in life. Yes, your IQ can help you get into college, but it’s your EQ that will help you manage the stress and emotions when facing your final exams. IQ and EQ exist in tandem and are most effective when they build off one another.

Emotional intelligence affects:

Your performance at school or work.  High emotional intelligence can help you navigate the social complexities of the workplace, lead and motivate others, and excel in your career. In fact, when it comes to gauging important job candidates, many companies now rate emotional intelligence as important as technical ability and employ EQ testing before hiring.

Your physical health. If you’re unable to manage your emotions, you are probably not managing your stress either. This can lead to serious health problems. Uncontrolled stress raises blood pressure, suppresses the immune system, increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, contributes to infertility, and speeds up the aging process. The first step to improving emotional intelligence is to learn how to manage stress.

Your mental health. Uncontrolled emotions and stress can also impact your mental health, making you vulnerable to anxiety and depression. If you are unable to understand, get comfortable with, or manage your emotions, you’ll also struggle to form strong relationships. This in turn can leave you feeling lonely and isolated and further exacerbate any mental health problems.

[Read: Building Better Mental Health]

Your relationships. By understanding your emotions and how to control them, you’re better able to express how you feel and understand how others are feeling. This allows you to communicate more effectively and forge stronger relationships, both at work and in your personal life.

Your social intelligence. Being in tune with your emotions serves a social purpose, connecting you to other people and the world around you. Social intelligence enables you to recognize friend from foe, measure another person’s interest in you, reduce stress, balance your nervous system through social communication, and feel loved and happy.

The skills that make up emotional intelligence can be learned at any time. However, it’s important to remember that there is a difference between simply learning about EQ and applying that knowledge to your life. Just because you know you should do something doesn’t mean you will—especially when you become overwhelmed by stress, which can override your best intentions.

In order to permanently change behavior in ways that stand up under pressure, you need to learn how to overcome stress in the moment, and in your relationships, in order to remain emotionally aware.

The following 4 key skills can help you build your EQ and improve your ability to manage emotions and connect with others.

In order for you to engage your EQ, you must be able to use your emotions to make constructive decisions about your behavior. When you become overly stressed, you can lose control of your emotions and the ability to act thoughtfully and appropriately.

Think about a time when stress has overwhelmed you. Was it easy to think clearly or make a rational decision? Probably not. When you become overly stressed, your ability to both think clearly and accurately assess emotions—your own and other people’s—becomes compromised.

[Read: Stress Management]

Emotions are important pieces of information that tell you about yourself and others, but in the face of stress that takes us out of our comfort zone, we can become overwhelmed and lose control of ourselves. With the ability to manage stress and stay emotionally present, you can learn to receive upsetting information without letting it override your thoughts and self-control. You’ll be able to make choices that allow you to control impulsive feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.

Managing stress is just the first step to building emotional intelligence.

The theory of attachment indicates that your current emotional experience is likely a reflection of your early life experience. Your ability to manage core feelings such as anger, sadness, fear, and joy often depends on the quality and consistency of your early life emotional experiences. If your primary caretaker as an infant understood and valued your emotions, it’s likely your emotions have become valuable assets in adult life. But, if your emotional experiences as an infant were confusing, threatening or painful, it’s likely you’ve tried to distance yourself from your emotions.

But being able to connect to your emotions—having a moment-to-moment connection with your changing emotional experience—is the key to understanding how emotion influences your thoughts and actions.

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, throat, or chest?

Do you experience individual feelings and emotions, such as anger, sadness, fear, and 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, you may have “turned down” or “turned off” your emotions. In order to build EQ—and become emotionally healthy—you must reconnect to your core emotions, accept them, and become comfortable with them. You can achieve this through the practice of mindfulness.

[Listen: Mindful Breathing Meditation]

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and without judgment. The cultivation of mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, but most religions include some type of similar prayer or meditation technique. Mindfulness helps shift your preoccupation with thought toward an appreciation of the moment, your physical and emotional sensations, and brings a larger perspective on life. Mindfulness calms and focuses you, making you more self-aware in the process.

Developing emotional awareness

It’s important that you learn how to manage stress first, so you’ll feel more comfortable reconnecting to strong or unpleasant emotions and changing how you experience and respond to your feelings. You can develop your emotional awareness by using HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit .

Social awareness enables you to recognize and interpret the mainly nonverbal cues others are constantly using to communicate with you. These cues let you know how others are really feeling, how their emotional state is changing from moment to moment, and what’s truly important to them.

[Read: Effective Communication]

When groups of people send out similar nonverbal cues, you’re able to read and understand the power dynamics and shared emotional experiences of the group. In short, you’re empathetic and socially comfortable.

Using mindfulness to build social awareness

To build social awareness, you need to recognize the importance of mindfulness in the social process. After all, you can’t pick up on subtle nonverbal cues when you’re in your own head, thinking about other things, or simply zoning out on your phone. Social awareness requires your presence in the moment. While many of us pride ourselves on an ability to multitask, this means that you’ll miss the subtle emotional shifts taking place in other people that help you fully understand them.

• You are actually more likely to further your social goals by setting other thoughts aside and focusing on the interaction itself.
• Following the flow of another person’s emotional responses is a give-and-take process that requires you to also pay attention to the changes in your own emotional experience.
• Paying attention to others doesn’t diminish your own self-awareness. By investing the time and effort to really pay attention to others, you’ll actually gain insight into your own emotional state as well as your values and beliefs. For example, if you feel discomfort hearing others express certain views, you’ll have learned something important about yourself.

Speak to a Licensed Therapist

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

Working well with others is a process that begins with emotional awareness and your ability to recognize and understand what other people are experiencing. Once emotional awareness is in play, you can effectively develop additional social/emotional skills that will make your relationships more effective, fruitful, and fulfilling.

Become aware of how effectively you use nonverbal communication. It’s impossible to avoid sending nonverbal messages to others about what you think and feel. The many muscles in the face, especially those around the eyes, nose, mouth and forehead, help you to wordlessly convey your own emotions as well as read other peoples’ emotional intent. The emotional part of your brain is always on—and even if you ignore its messages—others won’t. Recognizing the nonverbal messages that you send to others can play a huge part in improving your relationships.

Use humor and play to relieve stress. Humor, laughter and play are natural antidotes to stress. They lessen your burdens and help you keep things in perspective. Laughter brings your nervous system into balance, reducing stress, calming you down, sharpening your mind and making you more empathic.

[Read: How to Be Emotionally Intelligent in Romantic Relationships]

Learn to see conflict as an opportunity to grow closer to others. Conflict and disagreements are inevitable in human 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.

More Information

• Gilar-Corbi, R., Pozo-Rico, T., Sánchez, B., & Castejón, J.-L. (2019). Can emotional intelligence be improved? A randomized experimental study of a business-oriented EI training program for senior managers. PLOS ONE , 14(10), e0224254. Link
• How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence—Professional Development | Harvard DCE . (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2022, from Link
• Jiménez-Picón, N., Romero-Martín, M., Ponce-Blandón, J. A., Ramirez-Baena, L., Palomo-Lara, J. C., & Gómez-Salgado, J. (2021). The Relationship between Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence as a Protective Factor for Healthcare Professionals: Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 18(10), 5491. Link
• Segal, Jeanne. The Language of Emotional Intelligence: The Five Essential Tools for Building Powerful and Effective Relationships. 1st edition. McGraw Hill, 2008. Link
• Segal, Jeanne S. Raising Your Emotional Intelligence: A Practical Guide–A Hands-on Program for Harnessing the Power of Your Instincts and Emotions. 1st edition. Holt Paperbacks, 2015. Link

More in Emotional Intelligence

Learn why emotional intelligence matters in romantic relationships

Tools for managing emotions and bringing your life into balance

Stress Management

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Learn how emotional intelligence can help strengthen bonds

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VIDEO: Why Emotions Matter

Discover the powerful role of emotions

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Emotional Intelligence, Essay Example

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Words: 578

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Introduction

A relatively new field in psychology, emotional intelligence (EI) first emerged in the early 1990’s (Fukuda, et al., 2011). EI is generally put into four categories which are self-evaluation, evaluation of others emotions, regulation of emotion and use of emotion . Different levels of emotional intelligence may affect leadership, high achievement and family life among people of different genders, ages and cultural backgrounds (Margavio, Margavio, Hignite, & Moses). The society will greatly benefit from research advancements in the field of EI because EI plays a major role in the financial and personal success of high achievers and leaders.

Gender and cultural background have proven to be effective measures of EI and require further research. There is a need to establish an effective measurement of EI with applicability across cultures and other demographic groups because this will help us better understand the relationship between EI and different demographics.

Benefits of Emotional Intelligence Training

EI training of employees by businesses would lead to happier, more productive, and more efficient workers. Today work ethic, perseverance and single-mindedness are seen as key elements of success in life and business but EI is rarely included in the list of characteristics essential to success. Research shows that EI boosts chances of success and its absence may hinder future prospects.

High achievers often show resistance to EI. Sean McCann gives the example of Kevin, who is in late 30s and have been successful in everything from athletics and academia to business. But interviews show Kevin resists emotional awareness of self and others because he perceives emotional weaknesses as a personal failure (McCann, April 2009).

Many high performers believe emotional factors should not shape decision-making as well as their professional lives and adopt hostile and single-minded behavior. This behavior may yield short-term successes but ultimately leads to isolation from peers and negatively affects one’s long term prospects. Kevin, McCann responded well to EI counseling and became more self-confident and happier.

EI also helps predict transformational leadership (Lopez-Zafra, Garcia-Ratamero, & Martos, 2012). Transformational leadership improves subordinates’ morale through use of different motivational techniques. Transformation leadership requires understand others’ emotions and being able to effectively respond to them.

Higher EI also decreases the amount of work-family interference (Cheung & So-kum Tang, 2012). Workers who cannot express their emotions at work tend to release negative emotions at home and it often leads to emotional dissonance. EI training will help workers effectively deal with emotions at workplace and reduce work-family interference. Studies show EI can be cultivated from a young age in school children (Mavroveli & Sanchez-Ruiz, 2011) as well as in middle of life (McCann, April 2009).

Cheung, F. Y., & So-kum Tang, C. (2012). The Effect of Emotional Dissonance and Emotional Intelligence on Work–Family Interference. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 44 (1) , pp. 50-58.

Fukuda, E., Saklofske, D., Tamaoka, K., Fung, T., Miyaoka, Y., & Kiyama, S. (2011). Factor Structure of Japanese Versions of Two Emotional Intelligence Scales. International Journal of Testing .

Lopez-Zafra, E., Garcia-Ratamero, R., & Martos, M. (2012). The relationship between transformational leadership and emotional intelligence from a gendered approach. The Psychological Record , pp. 97-114.

Margavio, T., Margavio, G., Hignite, M., & Moses, D. (n.d.). An Analysis of Chinese Business Students’ Performance on a Test of Emotional Intelligence. College Student Journal .

Mavroveli, S., & Sanchez-Ruiz, M. (2011). Trait emotional intelligence influences on academic achievement and school behaviour. British Journal of Educational Psychology , pp. 112-134.

McCann, S. (April 2009). Performance Psychology in Action: Casebook for Working With Athletes, Performing Artists, Business Leaders, and Professionals in High-Risk Occupations. American Psychological Association.

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Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Success Essay

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Personal Understanding of Emotional Intelligence

Five aspects of emotional intelligence, personal evaluation within five aspects of emotional intelligence, the impact of emotional intelligence on success, reference list.

Watching the video Emotional Intelligence, with Daniel Goleman , it is possible to make a personal opinion about emotional intelligence, however, Daniel Goleman does not firmly state what it is. As for me, I would define emotional intelligence as the ability to react to the situation in a proper way, to find the appropriate way out of a situation, and to make a decision successful for you and surrounding people. Emotional intelligence may be explained as an impulse to do something by the situation. Additionally, emotional intelligence cannot be measured as well as it cannot be fixed at any point.

Daniel Goleman points out five aspects of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, emotion management, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Self-awareness is explained as the ability “to feel somewhat from the moment, to moment, to moment” (Emotional Intelligence, with Daniel Goleman n.p.). In other words, self-awareness, as the component of emotional intelligence, can be considered as the feeling, an intuition that helps make appropriate decisions.

Dwelling upon emotion management, Daniel Goleman says that it is an ability to control impulse, to get angry “with the right person, for the right degree, with the right purpose, and in the right way” (Emotional Intelligence, with Daniel Goleman n.p.). To be emotionally intelligent, people should be able to manage their emotions, to control them, to be able to restrain some feelings, and disclose others.

Motivation is the ability to use emotions for motivating oneself. Motivation is related to optimism as only such people can be properly motivated. Empathy is the ability to feel the same emotions as another person and to be able to respond to those.

Social skills mean the art of relationships. This part of emotional intelligence is really powerful, as it makes things different. Having great abilities in communication, you can complete many tasks, you can make people respond to you. As I see this, communication and the ability to go along with people is a guarantee of good relationships, while good relationships is a guarantee of success.

I have good skills in self-awareness, as I always follow my intuition. Frankly speaking, I never appear in situations similar to those in the video, when a person predicted that something bad was going to happen, but did not follow emotions. I trust my feelings and that’s why I find myself in an advantageous position. I always succeed, and if I have bad anticipation I do not participate in the affair.

I am not good at emotion management, I cannot restrict myself when I feel that I have to. This is the problem that I should overcome. Sometimes, I react inappropriately to things, words, or events, knowing that nothing positive is going to happen. This is what I mean, when people are discussing something and my opinion is crucial, I always express it, even though I know that if I remain silent, I will get much more in the future. This is one of my greatest disadvantages, the inability to control my emotions. But I try to correct this disadvantage using counting to 10 before reacting to something that may compromise me.

I am an optimistic person, and I do not know how people can live another way. No matter what happens, I always know that it is for good even if it seems that there is nothing worse in the world. It is important to get the best out of the situation and to be motivated for a better outcome. This is right about me. Frankly speaking, I am very empathetic, so consider it my disadvantage rather than an advantage. I do not want to reject the fact that people should be caring, but when such care is the prejudice of personal interests, it is not that great. I suppose I should pay more attention to my benefit, however, it seems too difficult for me. I cannot be egoistic, but there are situations when it seems to me that I have to.

I am good at communicating with people. No matter where I am and how many strange people surround me, I always can offer appropriate problems for discussion. I can get along with people and this feature characterizes me as a person who can achieve success.

Emotional intelligence impacts human success even greater than IQ. According to Daniel Goleman, only 10% to 20% make up human success, while the impact of emotional intelligence is about 80%-90%. Human success lies not only in their knowledge but also in their ability to listen to personal feelings, to handle emotions, to react appropriately to situations, to get motivated, to be able to sympathize, and to communicate with people.

Emotional intelligence is a close connection between the human brain and feelings, their brain, and their actions. The ability to organize five components of emotional intelligence properly is a guarantee of your success. Having understood the problems I have, I can try to cope with them and become a successful person.

Emotional Intelligence, with Daniel Goleman. (1999). Digital educational video . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, January 31). Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Success. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-intelligence-and-its-impact-on-success/

"Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Success." IvyPanda , 31 Jan. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-intelligence-and-its-impact-on-success/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Success'. 31 January.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Success." January 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-intelligence-and-its-impact-on-success/.

1. IvyPanda . "Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on Success." January 31, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-intelligence-and-its-impact-on-success/.

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Psychology Discussion

Emotional intelligence: short essay on emotional intelligence.

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Emotional Intelligence: Short Essay on Emotional Intelligence!

Emotional intelligence is a new concept developed by Dr John Mayer and Dr Peter Salovey (1990) from American University. However, it was popularised by American Psychologist Daniel Goleman (1995).

Emotional intelligence is defined as “one’s ability to know, feel and judge emotions in cooperation with a person’s thinking process for behaving in a proper way, with ultimate realisation of happiness in him and in others”.

Like general intelligence, emotional intelligence is also developed in a person by birth. Normal development of emotion leads to healthy life, but too much variation in emotional level damages the individual’s life.

The level of emotion in a person is called Emotional Quotient (EQ). This can be obtained by using emotional intelligence tests, same way as we assess the IQ of a person.

The success of a person in his job or profession depends not only on his IQ, but also on his EQ. The nurse with high emotional quotient can identify and perceive her emotions and of others like patients easily through face reading, bodily language, voice tone, etc.

She can have a proper understanding of the nature, intensity and outcomes of her emotions. High EQ also helps the nurse to exercise proper control and regulation over the expression and use of emotions in dealing with her and others, so as to promote harmony and peace.

Hence, it is very important for nurses to develop a high level of emotional intelligence because; they come across many emotional situations in their duties. They see the suffering of patients from many serious diseases, death of patients, and the sorrowfulness of the relatives with patients.

Many times she will come across the situations which lead to a lot of anxiety, tension, anger, etc. To deal with such emotional situations effectively and to have proper control over her emotions, the nurse should have a high level of emotional intelligence.

If not, she can learn to manage her emotions by modifying, changing her existing level of emotions and to use them in an intelligent way.

Related Articles:

• Importance of Knowledge of Emotions for a Nurse
• Short Notes on Mental Ability of an Individual
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Emotional Intelligence Sample Essay

E ssay Sample

Emotional intelligence,  as an organizational behavior concept, has gained a lot of attention in the recent past due to its perceived benefits. Emotional intelligence is believed to bolster relations between different stakeholders in an organization and hence improving organizational performance. Emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to recognize the feelings of their employees and those of other stakeholders and to manage their emotions to cultivate favorable relationships with these significant others (Moeller & Kwantes, 2015). Emotional intelligence enhances the strategic performance of principals in schools by helping them understand the feelings of various stakeholders in schools and adjust their emotions accordingly to bolster relationships with these significant others.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence (Sample Essay) in Leadership

Emotional intelligence enables leaders to recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions of subordinates . It empowers them to take better control of their feelings and tune them for better relations with subordinates in consideration of the employees’ current emotional state. According to Cook (2006), emotional intelligence comprises of four primary competencies. The first competency is self-awareness which is the ability of a person to accurately recognize their emotions and remain aware of them as they change. This emotional awareness enables a person to stay in control of how they respond to various situations and individuals. The second competency is self-management, which is the ability of a person to be emotionally flexibility and to control emotional reactions when interacting with different people and facing different situations. Self-management is the competency that prevents a person from emotionally overreacting to individuals and situations. Leaders with second self-management rarely conceal their negative emotions to their subordinates.

Cook (2006) further notes that the third competency is social awareness which is the ability to accurately identify other people’s emotions, their effects and how they are likely to affect relations with these people. Social awareness enables one to understand what others are feeling and thinking. Relationship management is the fourth competency, and is the ability of a leader to combine all the other three emotional intelligence skills to initiate and sustain successful relations with others (Cook, 2006). Relationship management is characterized by abilities such as clear communication, effective conflict handling, and trust in relationships.

The effect of emotional intelligence on leaders has been extensively studied in the recent past. The results of most of these studies have established a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and leadership. Leaders with higher emotional intelligence scores were found to be more productive than those with low emotional intelligence (Moeller & Kwantes, 2015). A global 2003 study involving 358 Johnson and Johnson group to establish differences in leadership competencies found that high-performing employees had higher emotional intelligence scores than average performers (Cook, 2006). Emotional intelligence therefore positively influences leadership performance. Highly emotionally intelligent leaders will have a greater effect on an organization than leaders with low emotional intelligence.

In light of the effect emotional intelligence has on leadership, organizations are placing a higher emphasis on hiring emotionally intelligent leaders. In the contemporary organizational leadership environment where organizations are required to quickly adapt to change, emotional intelligence is even more critical. Leaders need to be able to deal with their emotions and other people’s emotions if they are to guide them in the right direction. Fleming (2014) observes that the ability to work through emotional situations distinguishes great leaders from average leaders.

The Importance of Principal’s Strategic Leadership

School principals are supposed to be strategic leaders. They are the figures charged with the responsibility of drawing future strategic plans for schools and mobilizing the required conditions to ensure that schools achieve their strategic goals in regards to emotional intelligence sample essay . As leaders, principals face numerous challenges and performance issues such as dealing with teachers and students and supporting their staff. Conflicts arise in the course of running schools, and this brings the risk of decreased motivation . School principals need to have high levels of emotional intelligence to enable them to be productive with students and all other stakeholders in the education system. Berkovich and Eyal (2017) add that emotional intelligence is thus an important success factor in educational leadership. It can help principals to reach high levels of performance.

A study conducted to establish the relationship between leadership abilities of principals and students’ academic achievement found out that the leadership skills of principals have an effect on students’ academic performance. The performance of principals increases student achievement and influences school success (Cliffe, 2011). Successful schools are the ones that have a sense of direction and purpose. It is only principals who are effective in leadership that can provide the support needed to achieve this success. Principals face the persistent challenge to create an enabling environment for students to ensure that their performance improves steadily. They are therefore supposed to demonstrate strong leadership skills and create a clear mission statement for the school.

Emotional Intelligence and the Productivity of Principals

The transformational leadership theory focuses on how leaders can secure the loyalty of their followers by meeting their pressing needs and fully engaging them in their work (Berkovich & Eyal, 2017). Transformational leaders are change oriented and strive to create something new from the old. In the long run, transformational leaders help themselves, their employees and the organization to become efficient and better. One unique aspect of transformational leadership is the ability of the leader to build secure and meaningful relationships with staff while at the same time supporting them to attain the highest levels of individual development (Berkovich & Eyal, 2017). Transformational leaders might not be many, but the effects they have on their organizations are great.

In organizations that embrace transformational leadership, leaders are perceived as members of a wider team and not as centers of power (Cook, 2006). The primary conclusion that can be drawn from transformational leadership is that the skills, traits, and behavior of a leader as well as their ability to deal with various situational factors determine their overall effectiveness.

Emotional intelligence is one of the abilities that leaders in transformational organizations need to have. Emotional intelligence enables leaders in transformational organizations to efficiently assume their roles as members of a team (Cook, 2006). In a setting where transformational leadership is practiced, the leader needs to be able to identify the emotions of the significant others as well as their own emotions and respond to them effectively. A decrease in the loyalty of employees towards an organization can be partially associated with incompetent leadership.

Leadership is not always about being tough and strict as the principles of transformational leadership suggest; it is more about cultivating integrity, empathy, and motivation in employees. All these are building blocks of emotional intelligence. Moore (2009) argues that leaders are supposed to establish a real connection with staff to enable them to give the best for their sake and the sake of the organization. Leaders who fail to cultivate productive relationships with employees are likely to witness a decrease in loyalty. Emotional intelligence can enable leaders to develop productive relationships with employees. Trust and openness characterize such relationships.

As strategic managers, school principals and leaders in schools need emotional intelligence in equal proportions to other elements of leadership. Emotional intelligence can set successful school principals apart from the rest. An understanding of the role of emotional intelligence can enable them to create a prime good feeling in teachers and pupils at the school. High emotional intelligence enables school principals to create and maintain an environment of openness and positivity that frees the best in people (Moore, 2009). Principals as strategic leaders can no longer ignore the role of emotions and consider them insignificant. They need to embrace emotional intelligence for it holds positive outcomes for them, their students and schools in general.

In conclusion, emotional intelligence is the ability of a person to identify and effectively deal with their emotions as well as emotions of other people whom they interact with. Emotional intelligence has become one of the most widely studied areas of organizational leadership due to its perceived benefits. Research has linked emotional intelligence with improved leadership performance. As strategic leaders, principals can reap numerous benefits from the understanding and proper utilization of emotional intelligence. Research has linked high emotional intelligence in school leaders with better educational outcomes for students. As the theory of transformational leadership postulates, the most successful leaders are the ones who can create the most conducive environment for their employees to give their best. Emotional intelligence is one of the abilities that can enable leaders to create this conducive and productive environment. Emotional intelligence thus improves the performance of school principals as strategic managers.

A Note on Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are a valuable form of material to use in literary analyses for several reasons. The primary reason is that secondary sources provide an author with information that has already been researched. This is significant so students and scholars do not unintentionally plagiarize another’s work. Secondary sources are also necessary to bolster the claims of a student who is becoming involved in research in an area of literature for the first time. A student can make critical claims about a text, but their lack of expertise may undermine their arguments. However the experience and knowledge of a scholar quoted in a student’s work lends the argument some credibility and concepts that the paper would not have otherwise.

Having secondary material included in a written work is also necessary to develop scholarly resources. Having one person write about a literary work is very useful for writing about the intricacies of the text and discovering various interpretations of the work. However, a valuable perspective of literature is based upon criticizing those initial interpretations of the work so as to further arguments or refute points that were previously made. Scholarly work is based upon creating an ongoing means of evaluating literary works to find discover new meanings for works and then extend the ideas that are found to other works. After all, scholarly works about literature are most useful when they can find common threads between literature to reveal something unique about the authors and the people about whom they write. Therefore, utilizing secondary sources as a way to help develop a larger body of work in the realm of literature represents the most basic form of advancing scholarly knowledge.

Berkovich, I., & Eyal, O. (2017). The mediating role of principals’ transformational leadership behaviors in promoting teachers’ emotional wellness at work. Educational Management Administration & Leadership , 45 (2), 316-335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1741143215617947

Cliffe, J. (2011). Emotional intelligence: A study of female secondary school headteachers. Educational Management Administration & Leadership , 39 (2), 205-218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1741143210390057

Cook, C. R. (2006). Effects of emotional intelligence on principals’ leadership performance (Doctor of Education). Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.

Fleming, P. (2014). Successful middle leadership in secondary schools: A practical guide to subject and team effectiveness . New York, NY: Routledge.

Moeller, C., & Kwantes, C. T. (2015). Too much of a good thing? Emotional intelligence and interpersonal conflict behaviors. The Journal of Social Psychology , 155 (4), 314-324. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2015.1007029

Moore, B. (2009). Emotional intelligence for school administrators: A priority for school reform? American Secondary Education , 37 (3), 20-28.

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Elon Musk's Biographer Says He Uses 1 Simple Trick. It's Pure Emotional Intelligence

It's like a longer version of the four-second rule.

One thing about Elon Musk is that he never stops talking.

Truly, if you were to try to write a book about Musk , I think your challenge would be to keep track of all the things Musk has said and written, as opposed to trying to get him to open up more.

That's why I was a bit surprised when I read a recent profile of the man who wrote the acclaimed Musk biography from last year -- Walter Isaacson -- in which Isaacson's simple trick to get reluctant subjects to open up was revealed.

In fairness, I think Isaacson probably had to employ it more on some of his other biographies of people like Steve Jobs and Henry Kissinger. But it comes down to something we've talked about before in this column, and it's really about emotional intelligence.

Here's what Isaacson told a friend, according to Harvard's student newspaper, The Crimson :

It's amazing if you're working with somebody and you ask a question and then you just shut up, how they will fill the vacuum and they'll start to talk.

It's that simple. People are hard-wired emotionally to want to fill awkward silences . And if you don't help them by filling in the gaps, they're more likely to do so themselves.

One study out of the psychology department at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands concluded that four seconds is all that is required. (We call this the four-second rule as a result.)

An irony here is that Musk is himself known for using silence as a tool. For example, as my colleague Justin Bariso wrote a while back, Musk has a habit of taking long pauses sometimes before offering his opinion.

(You can see it in action in this video that Justin cited; fast-forward to about the 20-minute mark, and you'll see how Musk waits 17 seconds before diving in on a question he seems unsure how to answer.)

The same article also quotes former astronaut and SpaceX engineer Garrett Reisman, describing how Musk responds to some questions:

He'll kind of go into this, almost like a trance--he'll stare off into space and you can see the wheels turning. And he's focusing all of his intellect, which is considerable, on this one question.

Anyway, I don't know if you're planning to talk to Elon Musk anytime soon, or if you consider interviews to be part of your work.

But I do think you can probably find lots of useful places to use silence as a tool -- whether it's the four-second version, or the Isaacson version, or the Musk version for that matter.

Imagine how useful it can be in negotiations, when your silence can sometimes motivate another person or entity to make concessions simply to fill the gap.

As I write in my free e-book, 9 Smart Habits of People With Very High Emotional Intelligence , increasing emotional intelligence is a lot easier if the habits you want to adopt are simple to practice.

Simply learning to embrace short periods of silence is a pretty good start. Bonus benefit: It makes it less likely you'll say things you might regret.

This post originally appeared at inc.com .

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