Emotional Intelligence and Your Leadership Development

 

Emotional intelligence is a primary source of social skills, success, and influence. It plays a key role in regard to the above transformational leadership dimensions. I consider that emotional intelligence is the driver that would allow me to be successful in achieving a transformation as a leader. According to Johnson (2006) emotional intelligence is defined as “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use that information to guide one’s thinking and actions” (p. 43).  Daniel Goleman author of various books and articles about emotional intelligence topics, established that IQ and technical skills are important, but the emotional intelligence is the most significant skills of leadership (Goleman, 1998)

Emotional intelligence involves abilities that can be classified into the following domains:

1. Self-awareness - Observing yourself and recognizing a feeling as it happens (interpersonal intelligence)
2.  Managing emotions - Handling feelings so that they are appropriate; understanding the origin of emotions; finding ways to handle negative emotions (fears, anxieties, anger, and sadness)

3.  Motivating yourself - Channeling emotions in the service of a goal; ability to delay gratification and stifle impulses to obtain a greater goal.

4.  Empathy - Sensitivity to others’ feelings and concerns and taking their perspective; ability to appreciate the differences in how people feel about things

5.  Handling relationships - Managing emotions in others; social competence and social skills (interpersonal intelligence). (p. 44)

 

Reference:

  Goleman, D. “What Makes a Leader”, Harvard Business Review, 1998 

  Johnson, A. (2006). Becoming fully intelligent. ENCOUNTER: Education for Meaning 

              and Social Justice, 19 (4), 40-46.

G