Unlocking Success: The Power of emotional intelligence
How strong is your drive to motivate yourself to get stuff done? Can you sense the emotions of others and respond effectively? Are you able to create positive outcomes in the personal, professional, physical and mental areas of your life?
If you answered yes to these questions, it is probable that you have acquired the mental and emotional dexterities that form the basis of the superpower which is emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence forms the point at which awareness, cognition and emotion meet, it boosts our capacity for empathy, resilience, motivation, helps us to manage stress more effectively and allows us to communicate mindfully. It gives us the ability to read and navigate a large spectrum of social situations and conflicts. Emotional intelligence is as valuable of an asset as can be and, if cultivated it grants us the opportunity to realize and live a more fulfilled and abundant experience of life.
A Brief History of Emotional Intelligence
Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer coined the term ‘Emotional Intelligence’ in 1990 describing it as “a form of social intelligence that involves 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 action”.
Salovey and Mayer also started a research program aimed to develop valid measures of emotional intelligence and to explore its significance.
For example, one study revealed that individuals who scored high on emotional clarity, which refers to the ability to identify and name the emotions being experienced, showed quicker recovery after viewing an upsetting film.
In another study, those who demonstrated higher skills in accurately perceiving, understanding, and evaluating the emotions of others were more adept at adapting to changes in social environments and establishing strong support networks.
Daniel Goleman and Emotional Intelligence
In the 1990s, Daniel Goleman became aware of the work of Salovey and Mayer, which eventually inspired him to write his book on Emotional Intelligence. (if you haven't read it I highly recommend you do so soon)
Goleman, a science writer specializing in brain and behaviour research, had previously trained as a psychologist at Harvard, where he collaborated with David McClelland and other experts in the field. McClelland was among a growing group of researchers who were realizing the limitations of traditional cognitive intelligence tests in predicting real-life success.
Goleman argued that cognitive intelligence alone was not sufficient for achieving success in business; instead, he emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence. He defined emotionally intelligent individuals as those possessing four key characteristics:
They were good at understanding their own emotions (self-awareness)
They were good at managing their emotions (self-management)
They were empathetic to the emotional drives of other people (social awareness)
They were good at handling other people’s emotions (social skills)
When it comes to decision-making, rationality and logic often take the spotlight. However, emotions also play a crucial role in shaping our choices. Understanding and managing emotions, both within ourselves and in relation to others, can significantly impact the quality of our decision-making process and the relationships we form. This is where emotional intelligence comes into play. In this blog post, we'll explore how emotional intelligence influences decision-making, with a focus on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social skills.
Self-Awareness: Self-awareness refers to the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values. Being self-aware allows you to make decisions that align with your personal goals and values.
For example, imagine a person who is self-aware and recognizes their tendency to become overly impulsive when facing stressful situations such as when they need to speak in public or when they get into a disagreement with someone. Armed with this knowledge of emotional intelligence and self-awareness, they can consciously pause become mindful of what is presently alive within them and reflect before making important decisions, ensuring they consider all relevant factors and avoid hasty choices.
Self-Management: Self-management entails effectively regulating and controlling one's emotions, impulses, and behaviours. It involves the ability to stay calm under pressure, adapt to changing circumstances and make decisions based on reason rather than immediate emotional reactions. For instance, consider a leader who faces a challenging situation with an uncooperative or unruly team member that requires making tough decisions, he or she can remain calm, clear and collected and effectively make a sound decision that isn't based on impulse but rather intelligence and reason. By practising self-management, you can develop your ability to maintain composure, think critically, and make well-balanced decisions, even in high-pressure situations.
Social Awareness: Social awareness involves being attuned to the emotions and needs of others, fostering an attitude of empathy and understanding. People with high social awareness can recognize the emotional drives of those around them and take them into account when making decisions. For example, a manager with strong social awareness would also consider the impact of their decisions on their team members' well-being and morale rather than just focusing on a short-term financial gain or goal. This consideration can lead to choices that support a positive and collaborative work environment which ultimately fosters the growth of the company.
Social Skills: Social skills refer to the ability to effectively navigate social interactions, communicate clearly, and build strong relationships. These skills are essential in decision-making processes that involve collaboration, negotiation, and consensus-building. For instance, a manager who possesses strong social skills can create an atmosphere of open dialogue and respect. He or she can encourage team members to contribute their perspectives and insights and so, open an opportunity for team members to feel seen and heard as the valuable part that they form in the organization. By incorporating diverse viewpoints, the manager can make better-informed decisions that benefit the entire team.
Summary
Emotional intelligence is a powerful tool in decision-making, it is complementing rational thinking with a deep understanding of emotions, both our own and those of others. By developing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and social skills, individuals can make more informed and effective choices.
Whether it's understanding your own biases and moods, staying composed in challenging situations, or considering the impact on others, emotional intelligence empowers you to make decisions that align with your values, foster positive relationships, and ultimately lead to better outcomes.
Remember, while emotions may sometimes seem to be at odds with rationality, acknowledging and harnessing their influence can elevate the quality of our decision-making process, leading to more balanced and fulfilling outcomes.
So far, we have focused on the social and psychological benefits of Emotional intelligence. It is essential to note that self-awareness – the ability to manage emotions and stress – and the ability to solve personal, as well as interpersonal problems, are also significantly related to physical health.
Chronic stress and the prolonged negative self-talk which accompanies emotional states such as anger, depression, and anxiety can precipitate the onset and progression of hypertension, heart problems, and diabetes; increase susceptibility to viruses, and infections; delay healing of wounds and injuries; and exacerbate conditions such as arthritis and atherosclerosis.
The value of Emotional Intelligence is immense; developing a mindful attitude toward emotions encourages many positive traits, from resilience to better communication, and higher levels of motivation to more effective stress management, all of which can be seen as conducive to effectively achieving professional, personal, physical and mental health success.