1
The Essential Components of Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence has managed to grab the attention of health practitioners and researchers since its inception. The first formal definition of emotional intelligence (EI) was introduced in the year 1990 and since then a number of models have been proposed, each of which relates to different factors and attributes. Some of the most common attributes of emotional intelligence are enlisted below: Adaptability The key to emotional intelligence lies in adaptability. The term refers to the concept of embracing new ideas to make room for creative thinking in the human mind. For business leaders, adaptability refers to the idea of facilitating change in staff, environment and organizational culture. Adaptable leaders are able to induce positive changes for the greater benefit of the organization. Assertiveness Unlike conventional leadership concepts, assertiveness in EI refers to showing respect for oneself and for others. A person with high EI will be able to stand up for legitimate rights, encourage positive and honest communication and be more open. The most important element of assertive communication is to make room for newer innovations without allowing oneself to be railroaded. Emotional Expression For leaders with high EI, emotional expression and self awareness go hand in hand. The more conscious an individual is; the greater will be his/her control over emotional expression. Individual expressions may be a mixture of verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Leaders find it far easier to communicate with their subordinates if they are able to successfully regulate their emotions. Emotional Management of Oneself and Of Others While emotional awareness allows an individual to become more “self-aware�; emotional management helps in managing and regulating these emotions. For leaders, these two skills play a very critical role as they help make cognizant and knowledgeable decisions. Relationship Building Building relationship skills is an important part of EI. For business leaders, relationship skills such as team building, conflict management and sociability are very important in order to motivate people in the desired direction. Relationship building and management is one of the most visible personality traits of leaders who are able to approach relations from an authentic viewpoint. Self Esteem A proven correlation between self esteem and happiness has been established in the past few years. Individuals with higher emotional intelligence have higher self esteems and are able
1
to efficiently deal with traction in their professional circles. The same allows the individual to master his/her skills and to gain knowledge in order to boost self confidence. The same is also linked to high academic performance. For leaders, a high self esteem translates into high emotional stability and therefore the ability to effectively integrate with their environment. Trait Empathy Empathy is perhaps one of the most important elements of emotional intelligence. It is associated with an individual’s capability to identify, acknowledge and to understand the viewpoints, feelings and needs of others in their surroundings. Empathetic leaders are able to manage their relations effectively and have excellent social skills. Emotional intelligence is not a skill that can be developed through a mere selfimprovement guide. The learning process is slow and is based on ones experiences. A lot of leaders refer to specialists or therapists in order to identify their existing flaws and to improve their interactions with others.
2
References http://www.researchomatic.com/emotional-intelligence-147098.html
3