The Elements of Emotional Intelligence - Free Essay Example

Emotional analytics are involved in every action, decision and judgment that we undertake. People with emotional intelligence recognize this and use it to manage their life. In the course of the last two decades, this concept has become a very important indicator of a person?s knowledge, skills and abilities in the workplace, school and personal life. Research proved the role of EI in performance, motivation, decision-making, management, and leadership. Therefore, EI has many benefits when applied efficiently. They entail valuable information about confidence, awareness, conscious decision making and every aspect of the human life. Studies have proven that emotions are constructive and contribute to performance enhancement and well-evaluated decisions. John Mayer and Peter Salovey coined the phrase emotional intelligence in 1990. Many EI models have developed over the last two decades; they can be divided in three categories: ability, mixed, and trait EI models. The major difference in the three is whether EI an innate human ability or a competence that can be trained into or gained over time. There is variation from strict testing of abilities with scale type models to the subjective questionnaires of self-reporting.  µ Ability models define emotional intelligence as a mental ability. µ Mixed models of emotional intelligence combine mental ability with personality characteristics such as optimism and wellbeing. µ While trait models of EI refers to an individual?s perception of their abilities in emotional conditions.Social and cognitive neuroscience research findings and their wide application within the corporate environment marked a fundamental shift in the perception of emotions. The writings of years of psychology and management also gave way to designing of models about EI concept and working under experimentally valid scenarios. The elements of emotional intelligence as defined by Reuven Bar On (1996), Daniel Goleman (1995), and Petrides (2000) 1. Self-awareness Recognise your feelings, understand your swift or prompt responses to events and analyse how your emotions affect your behaviour and performance. 2. Self-Regulation Manage internal cognitive states, impulses and resources to achieve goals. Identify limiting beliefs. 3. Self-Motivation Use deep emotional states to move and guide you towards your goals. Enable yourself to take initiatives and to persevere in the face of obstacles and setbacks. 4. Social awareness Sense, understand and respond to what other people are feeling. Having empathy with others and also comprehending social networks while paying attention to body language cues. 5. Social Skill Being able to manage, influence and inspire emotions in others. Handle emotions in relationships. Influencing and and inspiring others through effective emotion communication. Interpersonal Relationships All relationships, whether work-related or personal, have 3 bases: Fulfiling needs, relating to each other, and exchanging information through feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Reciprocating is important in every relationship so that both parties may benefit. Sharing thoughts and feelings make up stronger and well grounded relationships.