Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance

One of the most fundamental and important aspects of the human experience is our ability to sense emotions. Without it, our existence would be one-dimensional and nowhere as rich and dynamic as it is. We feel joy and euphoria when we achieve something, sadness when we lose it, and disappointment when things don’t go our way. All of these are manifestations of the different emotions we experience.

NATURE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

The essence of emotional intelligence as envisioned by Goleman can be summarized as follows;
It is the ability to control the emotions of others, including groups, individuals and closed people. It is a process of knowing what is good or bad and how to go from bad to good. It is susceptible to development or damage as a result of one’s life experiences. It is not genetically fixed, rather it is widely learned and continues to develop throughout life. It develops with age and experience as a person moves from childhood to adulthood. Both men and women have a personal profile of strengths and weaknesses in emotional intelligence abilities. Women tend to be stronger in skills based on empathy and social skills, while men do better in skills based on self-regulation.

BENEFITS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

EI has implications for many types of our lives, from personal relationships to professional settings. Some of the benefits are as follows;
Allows individuals to harness not only thinking skills but also the information and power that emotions bring. Take a realistic and realistic view of emotions as opposed to traditional notions that encourage unhealthy emotional suppression. Facilitate understanding of self and others beyond superficial information. Encourage and enable empathy to the quality of interpersonal interactions
It adds a competitive advantage over mere cognitive intelligence and technical skill so that individuals can pursue excellence and success using a wide range of intelligences. Allows individuals to control their emotions. This means that a person can intensely feel desired emotions (e.g. joy, love, etc.) and avoid unwanted emotions like anger, jealousy, etc.

Application of emotional intelligence in administration and governance

Many administrative staff are extremely talented, exceptionally intelligent and have very high IQs. They excel in computer science, science, and math. But they have difficulty establishing social relationships. Many of them are rebellious and ruthless in their reactions to the outside world. They have little or no feelings for the people around them. They feel physiologically uncooperative in their relationships and lack social kindness or even a personal social life.

People with high emotional intelligence know how to listen to their feelings and control their intensity so that they are not influenced by others. Emotionally intelligent people know how to manage troublesome emotions. Emotionally intelligent people feel the effects of their emotions on others. People with emotional intelligence know how to use their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. Emotionally intelligent people listen to other people’s feelings and can relate to them. Emotionally intelligent people act ethically and build trust through honesty and consistency. In the field of management and operations, emotional intelligence includes 5 main elements of emotional intelligence: Self awareness. Self-regulating. Motivation. Empathy. Social ability. These emotional intelligence skills are essential for successful leadership. Self-awareness and agency skills for accurate and confident self-assessment help emotionally intelligent decision-makers determine their appropriate role in the decision-making process (Goleman, 2001). Self-management and its behavioral components such as self-control, reliability, conscientiousness, adaptability, willingness to succeed, and initiative are important emotional intelligence skills for decision makers. decisions (Goleman, 2001). As an administrator and leader, you must manage these factors. 1. Self-Awareness: If people are self-aware, they always know how their feelings and emotions affect those around them. Perceiving themselves in an administrative or leadership position also means having a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses.

2. Self-regulation: Managers and leaders who succeed in self-regulation do nothing to verbally attack others, make hasty or emotional decisions, stereotype people, or hurt others. harm their value. Self-regulation is about maintaining control. This element of emotional intelligence also implies the flexibility and commitment of directors and leaders to personal accountability. To improve his or her self-regulation, the person must Know the values. Take responsibility yourself. Practice calm.

3. Motivation: Directors and leaders are motivated to work consistently to achieve their goals. And they have extremely high standards for the quality of their work. Administrators can improve motivation by following the method: Double-check why they perform certain behaviors. Make sure their goal statements stay fresh and energized (goal setting). Know where they are. Let’s hope and find something good: Motivated leaders are optimistic no matter what they’re up against. Adopting this mindset can take some practice, but it’s well worth it.

4. Empathy: Empathy is essential to running a successful team or organization. Empathetic directors and leaders have the ability to put themselves in the shoes of others. They support and develop their team members, challenge those who act unfairly, provide constructive feedback, and listen to those in need

. 5. Social skills: Directors and employees should develop social skills. People who do well in this element of emotional intelligence are excellent communicators. They are equally open to bad news as well as good, and they are adept at getting their team to support them and get excited about a new task or project. Managers with good social skills are also good at managing change and skillfully resolving conflicts.

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Some people in our life are appreciated for being very understanding as a friend or colleague, lending an ear, and empathizing with our life events and struggles. Chances are this friend must be having a very high degree of Emotional Intelligence. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to perceive, understand and manage our emotions as well as influence others’ emotions in a positive way. This is different from general intelligence and its Intelligence Quotient (IQ) which represents abilities such as general knowledge, visual and spatial processing, working and short-term memory, and reasoning. While IQ is considered by many to be a decisive factor in achieving success in life, EQ (Emotional Quotient) is also an essential quality in areas including education, management and leadership. In fact, many companies include it in their required criteria, testing the EQ of applicants during their hiring process. A high EQ is considered an important quality for managers and business leaders.

According to psychologist and author, Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence includes five components. These five components are:

Self-Awareness

A person is said to be self-aware when they are highly aware of their own behaviour, habits and feelings. You can understand your strengths and weaknesses. You are aware of why you feel the way you do and how your actions can impact people around you. Being self-aware helps you in your work as it also keeps you humble and grounded.

Self-Regulation

Self-regulation refers to having good control over one’s actions and decisions. You think and react rationally, giving a lot of thought before making important decisions. As a manager or leader at your workplace, this quality helps manage critical situations and adapt to changes at work. It helps you make correct decisions, considering all possible consequences. You can stay calm, ease tensions and hold yourself accountable, particularly when you receive constructive criticism at work.

Motivation

A motivated individual is goal-oriented, giving it their all to achieve their end-goal. You maintain high standards of quality for your work and remain passionate and driven towards your aim. Self-motivation also means you are working for your personal development rather than material accomplishments like money, fame or status.  

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of someone else. You listen to what others have to say and you can put yourself in their situation to understand what they must have gone through. An empathic person is not too judgmental, a trait that helps them work well with their colleagues by helping them progress and providing constructive criticism.

Social Skills

Social skills are essential for good communication and teamwork. Social skills help you become good listeners, engage verbally and maintain a good rapport with your team-mates. You can take up the leadership role if needed, supporting the whole team and managing conflicts diplomatically.

When a person is able to manage their emotions well and exhibit a high degree of EQ, it also influences people around him/her to act the same. This helps in maintaining positive relationships in the work environment. A well-developed EQ is crucial for achieving your work goals, particularly in group projects. Anybody can develop a good Emotional Quotient with practice and care. Small habits like listening, understanding and reflecting on your actions can help in improving your emotional skills.