What is emotional intelligence?

Introduction

For a long time success was thought to depend mainly on intelligence (IQ). Research showed that many people with high IQ fail as leaders, while others with average IQ succeed because they handle themselves and others well. This ability is called emotional intelligence.

Definitions

• Salovey and Mayer (1990): 'the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's thinking and actions'.
• Daniel Goleman: the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.

Origins and development

• Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences (1983) included interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence.
• Salovey and Mayer introduced the term 'emotional intelligence' in 1990.
• Daniel Goleman's book Emotional Intelligence (1995) made the idea famous worldwide and applied it to leadership and the workplace.

Models of emotional intelligence

• Ability model (Mayer and Salovey): four abilities: perceiving emotions, using emotions to aid thinking, understanding emotions, and managing emotions.
• Mixed model (Goleman): five components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.
• Trait model (Petrides): EI as personality traits relating to emotions.

EI and IQ compared

• IQ measures reasoning, memory and analytical ability; EI concerns emotional and social skills.
• IQ is relatively fixed; EI can be learned and improved throughout life.
• IQ may help get a job; EI often determines success in leadership and teamwork.
• Both are important and complement each other.

Conclusion

Emotional intelligence is the ability to be smart with feelings. It is increasingly recognized as essential for leadership, public service and good relationships.