By: Oladokun Omowunmi.
Emotional intelligence (EI or EQ) is the ability to understand, and manage your own emotions as well as the emotions of others.
It simply means being wise with your emotions. Emotional intelligence helps us to succeed at school and work, achieve our career and personal goals, and build stronger relationships.
Examples of emotions: Anger, Jealousy, Sadness, Happiness, Fear, Love e.t.c
Without the ability to regulate our emotions (emotional intelligence) we might not be able to do what we are supposed to do and succeed at it.
For example: an angry person may not be able to keep a relationship, a sad / depressed may not be able to study and pass his examination, even if he is intelligent.
COMPONENT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
According to Daniel Goleman who popularized emotional intelligence and states that it matters more than Intelligent Quotient.
IQ (Intelligence Quotient) measures mental capability, valid reasoning and problem-solving, whereas EQ (Emotional Quotient) measures emotional intelligence, empathy, and social skills. The core components are:
1. Self Awareness : knowing yourself.
2. Self Management : regulating your emotions.
3. Motivation : motive to pursue ones goals.
4. Empathy: understanding others emotions.
5. Social skill: managing relationships.
BENFITS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE..
1.Emotional Intelligence increases communication, problem solving and relationship with others. Employers now consider EI and not only IQ before hiring.
2. Feelings like joy, love e.t.c gives you the zeal to achieve our goals, resolve challenges and make impact.
3. Love and joy being emotion helps to develop bonds and trust between family, friends, and organisation.
4.Positive emotions can reduce stress, protects the heart, and nervous systems and improve our health generally.
In conclusion, John D. Mayer states that “The emotionally intelligent person is skilled in four areas: identifying emotions, using emotions, understanding emotions, and regulating emotions.”
