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Emotional Intelligence

Manage your emotions and have empathy for others 

Emotional Intelligence describes the ability, capacity, skill, or self-perceived ability to identify, assess, and manage the emotions of one’s self, of others, and of groups. People who possess a high degree of emotional intelligence know themselves very well and are also able to sense the emotions of others

“If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far” (Daniel Goleman)

The five domains of emotional intelligence are personal (3) and social (2) competences:

  • self-awareness
  • self-regulation
  • self-motivation
  • social awareness
  • social skills

1. Self-Awareness

  • Emotional awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions and their effects
  • Accurate self-assessment: Knowing one’s strengths and limits
  • Self-confidence: Sureness about one’s self-worth and capabilities

2. Self-Regulation

  • Self-control: Managing disruptive emotions and impulses
  • Trustworthiness: Maintaining standards of honesty and integrity
  • Conscientiousness: Taking responsibility for personal performance
  • Adaptability: Flexibility in handling change
  • Innovativeness: Being comfortable with and open to novel ideas and new information

3. Self-Motivation

  • Achievement drive: Striving to improve or meet a standard of excellence
  • Commitment: Aligning with the goals of the group or organization
  • Initiative: Readiness to act on opportunities
  • Optimism: Persistence in pursuing goals despite obstacles and setbacks

4. Social Awareness

  • Empathy: Sensing others’ feelings and perspective, and taking an active interest in their concerns
  • Service orientation: Anticipating, recognizing, and meeting customers’ needs
  • Developing others: Sensing what others need in order to develop, and bolstering their abilities
  • Leveraging diversity: Cultivating opportunities through diverse people
  • Political awareness: Reading a group’s emotional currents and power relationships

5. Social Skills

  • Influence: Wielding effective tactics for persuasion
  • Communication: Sending clear and convincing messages
  • Leadership: Inspiring and guiding groups and people
  • Change catalyst: Initiating or managing change
  • Conflict management: Negotiating and resolving disagreements
  • Building bonds: Nurturing instrumental relationships
  • Collaboration and cooperation: Working with others toward shared goals
  • Team capabilities: Creating group synergy in pursuing collective goals

References: Some Daniel Goleman books

  • Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. 1995.
  • Working with Emotional Intelligence. 1998.
  • Social Intelligence: The New Science of Social Relationships. 2006.