What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is a behavioural model which can help people to improve their success in relationships, work, and even physical well-being.

The history and how it was developed

The roots of Emotional Intelligence can be traced back to Darwin’s early theories that emotional expression was important for the survival and adaptation of a species.
Later on in the early 20th Century the term ‘social intelligence’ came to be used and researchers came to see the importance of non-cognitive aspects of intelligence.
The term Emotional Intelligence was eventually popularised in the 90’s by professors Salovy and Mayer and by Daniel Goleman’s bestselling book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (1997).     

What is it and how does it work

Emotional Intelligence has been defined by Daniel Goleman as having five domains:

1. Knowing your emotions.
2. Managing your own emotions.
3. Motivating yourself.
4. Recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions.
5. Managing relationships, i.e., managing the emotions of others.

It works by highlighting areas of intelligence outside traditional measures of IQ that can lead to personal success, and thus giving everyone a greater potential value regardless of background.

By developing and recognising our emotional intelligence we are able to make more effective decisions on how to deal with people, whether on a personal level or a business level.

By cultivating our intra and interpersonal skills Emotional Intelligence therefore helps to foster a sense of harmony and well-being, as well as a mutual understanding of each other’s needs in our relationships.

Who and what is it good for
Emotional Intelligence is good for everyone.
In particular though it can help those who, while academically intelligent, are lacking in social skills and assertiveness.
It can also help those in managerial roles or in human resources and customer service.
Emotional Intelligence can also help reduce stress for individuals and organizations, decreasing, as it does, the likelihood of conflict that results from misunderstanding.

Some life coaches specialize in Emotional Intelligence training and coaching.