Emotional Intelligence

Photo by Langa Hlatshwayo on Unsplash

‘Emotional intelligence’ is a term coined by Goleman (1995).

It is slowly becoming recognised that it isn’t simply what we do and what we think that affects our ability to cope, manage and succeed, but also how we manage our feelings.

Emotional intelligence involves:

- Knowing the appropriate feelings for the circumstances

- Experiencing the appropriate feelings for the circumstances

- Expressing feelings appropriate to the circumstances

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use emotions in oneself and others. It involves a set of emotional and social skills that contribute to effective communication, empathy, self-awareness, and relationship management.

There are several components of emotional intelligence, and they generally include:

1. Self-awareness: The ability to recognize and understand one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and triggers.
2. Self-regulation: The capacity to manage and control one’s emotions, reactions, and impulses in different situations.
3. Social awareness: The ability to perceive and understand the emotions and needs of others, showing empathy and being attentive to their feelings.