OVERVIEW OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE - Sean Mc Pheat

OVERVIEW OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

INTRODUCTION

We all know someone who is incredibly bright and yet cannot seem to pull their life together. The brilliant student who flunks out of university, or the incredibly intelligent worker whom can’t seem to get ahead in their company. We know from our familiarity with them that they have a good to superior intelligence level, but that doesn’t seem to be enough to ensure success. And at the same time, we can probably describe in some form why we feel these people have not been successful. Our descriptions would include certain traits or behaviors that have nothing to do with intelligence.

Over time, scientists have begun to study why standard intelligence along isn’t enough to predict performance in an individual. They have realized that there is another type of intelligence that isn’t related to the standard cognitive intelligence – it’s called emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is a relatively new subject of study, though its roots go back to the time of Darwin, who posited that emotional expression was essential for survival. But what do we mean when we talk about emotional intelligence? The fact is that there are numerous ways of defining emotional intelligence. But for now, let’s say that it is the ability to be aware of your emotions and the emotions of others and then to use that knowledge to help manage the expression of emotions so that they foster success instead of cause roadblocks. Those who have high levels of emotional intelligence, or EI for short, are able to understand the physical, mental, and social impact that negative emotions have on their bodies, minds, relationships, and ability to pursue and achieve goals. They then are able to moderate their own emotions so that their emotions support their activities and enhance their quality of life.

of others.
People with highly developed EI are proven to be more successful in the workplace because they can understand their emotions and why they behave the way that they behave. They can use their emotions as clues to what their body and mind are trying to tell them. And they can use their EI to truly understand others and their points of view. When they wield this kind of tool, they can overcome the kinds of emotional obstacles that tend to stop us all. They can understand why others feel the way that they feel and why they are doing what they are doing, and use that knowledge to help others perform at their best. They can resolve conflict quickly and recover from setbacks with aplomb. They are good in a crisis, strong at communicating, and successful where others fail. Later in this ebook, we’ll look in more detail at some real-life examples of how EI can help you in the workplace. But now, let’s look at how emotional intelligence is different from our traditional ideas about intelligence.

THEORIES OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

Until the last century, the understanding of intelligence was strictly related to cognitive functions such as memory, learning, and problem-solving. However, scientists had begun to understand by the 1900s that non-cognitive aspects of intelligence also exist. For example, E.L. Thorndike described a type of social intelligence that was related to managing and understanding others. In 1940, David Wechsler further developed the concept of non-cognitive intelligence by arguing that no full definition of intelligence could exist until we were able to fully define those aspects that were not related to traditionally measured cognitive skills.

Then in 1983, Howard Gardner published a groundbreaking work entitled Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. He argued that people have more than one type of intelligence, and that these types of intelligence were also actually cognitive in nature, yet could not fully be defined by current models such as standard Intelligent Quotient (IQ) tests. His model for multiple intelligences focused mainly on:

• Intrapersonal Intelligence: the ability to understand one’s own feelings, motivations, and fears)

• Interpersonal Intelligence: the ability to understand others and their desires, motivations, and intentions

Gardner believed that these additional intelligence types were just as important as traditional intelligence in predicting performance and success. So although the term emotional intelligence wasn’t being used at the time, the concept was being explored. It wasn’t until 1985 that the term emotional intelligence was first used in the sense that we use it today, to describe these additional types of intelligence. The term was used in the
doctoral thesis of Wayne Payne, A Study of Emotion: Developing Emotional Intelligence. From this point, the field has become rich with different models for defining emotional intelligence.
model in use today.
However, there is one model which has become the most widely recognized as accurately describing the concept of emotional intelligence. It was published in 1995 by Daniel Goldman in his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ. It was after the publication of this bestseller that the term emotional intelligence became widely used.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONS

As Darwin theorized, researchers have learned that emotions serve a biological purpose. They signal to us when there is something wrong or when our needs are not getting met. When we need something that we are not getting or that we’re not getting regularly, we will feel a negative emotion. This could be anger, fear, disappointment, depression, or any other negative emotion.

There are social, mental, and even physical consequences to our ability to deal with our emotions. Since our emotions are a way our body can talk to us, we ignore them at our own peril. Not only will ignoring emotions ensure unhappiness, but it can lead to physical illness and even early death. It has been found that not only are people with a high level of EI more successful in their careers, but they also are healthier, happier, and enjoy better relationships with others.

Those with a high level of EI tend to experience a healthy balance of feelings like:
• Motivation • Friendship • Focus • Fulfillment • Peace of Mind • Awareness • Balance
• Self-control • Freedom • Autonomy • Contentment • Appreciation • Connection • Desire

But those with a lower level of EI tend to feel more:
• Loneliness • Fear • Frustration • Guilt • Emptiness • Bitterness • Depression • Instability
• Lethargy • Disappointment • Obligation • Resentment • Anger • Dependence • Victimization
• Failure

Therefore, for our own general happiness and quality of life, it behooves us to learn to
develop our emotional intelligence. With some basic understanding, you can alter the way
you experience your emotions and the way you react to them in any situation.