How to develop your
emotional intelligence
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE DEFINED
Emotional intelligence has been defined by Daniel Goleman
(1995) as ‘the capacity for recognising our own feelings and that
of others, for motivating ourselves, for managing emotions well
in ourselves as well as others’. He went on to say that you act
with emotional intelligence when you are aware of and regulate
your own emotions, and when you are sensitive to what others
are feeling and handle relationships accordingly.
An emotionally intelligent person understands his or her
strengths and weaknesses, and knows that it is more productive
to manage emotions rather than be led by them.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCETo succeed it is not enough to have technical ability and a high
IQ (intelligence quotient); emotional intelligence is also required.
12