I have been working on this topic for fifteen years. I discovered it when I was working on a leadership program for NHS Scotland. And yes, I am convinced…
Emotions are vital in our personal and professional development. Nowadays I share my time between UK and France. And it is amazing to observe how the approach to soft skills differs from a country to another, Although the concept of emotional intelligence is well established in the Anglo-Saxon countries through a multitude of research in psychology and neuroscience and many leadership programs, the buzz of emotional intelligence is still in its infancy in France; the development and use of these emotional skills are in the early stages. And yet the proofs are there. With countless researches supporting the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace and in life, and the Davos World Economic Forum declaring that emotional intelligence is one of the 10 essential skills for success (The Future of Jobs), learning about emotional intelligence is now considered a critical success factor for individuals and businesses in today’s environment. Every day, we are reminded that the world is uncertain, complex and volatile. Hard to believe that this has no impact on our personal, professional or social life. It’s up to us to decide whether our glass is half full or half empty!
So what is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) is a psychological concept developed by Professors Peter Salovey and John Mayer in the 90s. Their work was propagated by Daniel Goleman in his 1996 book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ”.
In practice, it is a person’s ability to acknowledge and recognize their emotions and those of others, to understand and manage these emotions effectively, to interact, and to generate more productive work with others.
In short, a mix of personal and social skills that involve:
• the way we perceive ourselves, express ourselves, make decisions and manage stress
• the way we manage our relationships with others
• what we feel,
• the potential impact that our emotions have on our thoughts and actions, but also on the people around us.
Emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) is a psychological concept developed by Professors Peter Salovey and John Mayer in the 90s. Their work was propagated by Daniel Goleman in his 1996 book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ”.
In practice, it is a person’s ability to acknowledge and recognize their emotions and those of others, to understand and manage these emotions effectively, to interact, and to generate more productive work with others.
In short, a mix of personal and social skills that involve:
• the way we perceive ourselves, express ourselves, make decisions and manage stress
• the way we manage our relationships with others
• what we feel,
• the potential impact that our emotions have on our thoughts and actions, but also on the people around us.
Emotional intelligence is different from IQ
Take a person who has a high IQ but a low EQ. In spite of his rational intelligence, this person will find it more challenging to establish a positive relationship with his teams, to exert her / his influence in a constructive way or to motivate the people who work with her / him. Hence the benefit of developing these talents.
The fact is that Emotional Intelligence is a skill
You may think that these “non-technical” skills are formalities that employers list in their job’s ads only to reinforce their legitimacy, but they are really important. They can be the differentiating factor in a job search. “We know that the most qualified person for the job does not always get it. Why is that? This is often because she is not always able to communicate effectively – a behavioral skill – and to establish a link – another behavioral skill – with the hiring manager.” Think about it: our job is essentially about listening and interacting with other people. Whether they are a leader or not, emotionally intelligent people are (among other qualities) motivated by themselves and their attitude motivates others. They set goals, are resilient to challenges, take the time to listen and are empathic.
You may think that these “non-technical” skills are formalities that employers list in their job’s ads only to reinforce their legitimacy, but they are really important. They can be the differentiating factor in a job search. “We know that the most qualified person for the job does not always get it. Why is that? This is often because she is not always able to communicate effectively – a behavioral skill – and to establish a link – another behavioral skill – with the hiring manager.” Think about it: our job is essentially about listening and interacting with other people. Whether they are a leader or not, emotionally intelligent people are (among other qualities) motivated by themselves and their attitude motivates others. They set goals, are resilient to challenges, take the time to listen and are empathic.
There is no age to develop these skills
Of course some people will find the exercise easier than others. The education they have received, the family values conveyed, their social awakening, their own values, their level of reflection on themselves are some of the factors that will facilitate this development more quickly. But the fact remains that we can all develop and improve these emotional talents at any age. My father is the best example. At the age of 70, he undertook this work of reflection and development to be able to continue to care serenely for my mother then suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He realised that managing his emotions as a caregiver was essential to his long-term well-being.
So in your opinion, developing skills that allow us to reflect on ourselves, identify habits or environments that hinder us in our personal and professional lives, and readjust our responses … Trend or essential resource?
Do you want to learn more about emotional intelligence? Introduce EI into your organization? Train your teams? Don’t hesitate to call me.
