1.5: Emotional Intelligence

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Most of you have heard of IQ or intelligence quotient. But have you heard of EI or EQ - emotional intelligence? Daniel Goleman is an American psychologist who studied emotional intelligence. His book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ ⁸, takes a look at the extreme importance of emotional intelligence. He found that there are five key components that comprise EI or EQ:

Self Awareness - you understand your emotions and how they can affect yourself and others around you.
Self-Regulation - you are able to control your emotions appropriately.
Motivation - you work towards your goals and set high standards for yourself.
Empathy - you have the ability to put yourself in others’ shoes and you care for others.
Social Skills - you work well with others. You communicate effectively and can work well with different types of people.

You could be the smartest person in the world, but if you are not able to manage your emotions, you probably will have a difficult time in school and in the workplace. You could excel in all academic situations, but if you do not work well with other people, you may have difficulty doing well in any workplace environment. Many people believe that EI or EQ is just as important or perhaps more important than IQ. What do you think?

⁸ Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. New York: Bantam Books.