EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: The way forward

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a person’s ability of being able to;

-read emotions in yourself and in others

-realize the meaning of emotions

-regulate one’s emotions in a descent model accordingly.

People who understand their own emotions are good at reading emotional cues—for instance, knowing why they are upset and how to express themself without violating norms—are most likely to be successful and effective in handling their carrier well.

Several studies indicate that, E.I plays an essential role in job performance. One study that implemented the rules of functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) technology, revealed that the executive MBA students who performed best on a strategic decision making task do have better abilities of incorporating emotional centers of the brain into their choice process. The students also de-emphasized that they used the most cognitive part of their brains.

Another study checked into the success and failure of 11 (eleven) U.S. presidents—from Franklin Roosevelt to Bill Clinton—and evaluated their success levels and abilities by looking into these six qualities: organization, communication, vision, political skill, cognitive style, and emotional intelligence. The key quality that differentiated the successful (such as Kennedy, Roosevelt, and Reagan) from the unsuccessful (such as Carter, Nixon, and Johnson) was emotional intelligence. One simulation research also highlighted that students who were good at distinguishing and highlighting among their own emotions were able to make more profitable investment decisions.

The arguments that favor the acquisition of Emotional Intelligence include: its intuitive appeal, the fact that it predicts criteria that matter, and also the cognitive content that it is biologically based.

Intuitive Appeal Of Emotional Intelligence

Almost everyone would unanimously agree that, it is good to have social intelligence. Based on cognitive process, it is understood that people who can detect emotions in others, control their own emotions better; can handle social interactions well, and have a powerful leg up in the business world. Partners in a multinational consulting firm who scored beyond the median on an E.I mensuration delivered $1.2 million higher in business than did the other partners.

Emotional Intelligence Predicts Criteria That Matter

Evidence hints that a high level of E.I, means a person will perform well on a job carrier. One research study found that E.I once foretold the performance of employees in a cigarette factory in China. Another study found the ability of acknowledging emotions in others’ facial expression and to emotionally “eavesdrop” (perceive subtle signals about peoples’ emotion) predicted individual ratings of how valuable people were to their organization.

Finally, a research review indicated that, overall, Emotional Intelligence weakly but consistently correlates with an individual’s  performance at work, even after researchers took conscientiousness, cognitive ability, and Neuroticism into account.

E.I Based On Biological Background

In one study, people with damage to the area of the brain that controls emotional processing, scored no lower on standardized measures of intelligence than people without similar damage. But on E.I tests, they scored significantly lower and were dysfunctional in normal decision making, as indicated by their poor performance in a card game with monetary benefits. This study indicates that E.I is neurologically based in a way that is not related to standard measures of intelligence. There is also evidence that E.I is based on genetics (natural disposition), further supporting the idea that its measurement is based on a real underlying biological factor.

I am quite sure you are ready to take a shot, and transform yourself into an emotionally intelligent personnel. Feel free to adjust your carrier status, by holding on to this carrier booster (Emotional Intelligence).

 

BY: Br. Sulayman Ndow

For Kairaba News