The Friday Funda (TFF) No. 18, Date: 2nd Sept. 2022 : Learning and Developing Emotional Intelligence (EI)

 Theme: Emotional Intelligence (EI); Part – IV

Learning and Developing Emotional Intelligence (EI)

(Reference Book : EI by Rajagopalan Purushothaman)

Can Emotional Intelligence be learned? Is it possible to apply Emotional Intelligence to varied settings, i.e. family, groups, workplace, sports, networking etc.?

Yes. One can learn and apply Emotional Intelligence in varied settings. Research conducted worldwide has proved that with age and practice Emotional Intelligence increases.    

Many researchers and practitioners have proposed various ways to increase Emotional Intelligence.

According to Rajagopalan, one needs to work on three (3) things i.e. Mindfulness, Resilience and Compassion to build Emotional Intelligence.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is being in the present moment. Mindfulness is about experiencing people, situations and nature in the present moment. It is about eliminating thoughts related to the problems, challenges and misfortunes of the past and the concerns, worries and uncertainties of the future. It is the state of mind that focuses on the present, feels and enjoys the surrounding environment.

Resilience

It is the second component of building EI. The manner in which we treat our bodies has a profound impact on our EI. We notice that disturbed sleep, unhealthy food and a secondary lifestyle devoid of physical activities impact moods and make us feel irritated.

Compassion

 Compassion is triggered by empathy. Compassion is being sensitive to the distress and pain of others with a commitment to try to do something about it. Compassion demands action from us. Just feeling for somebody in suffering can be pity or sympathy, but compassion is a higher level of emotion. Four attributes of compassion are Distress tolerance, Nod-judgmental, Sensitivity and Interest.

Driving Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Driving EI is about implementing EI while dealing with real-life situations and people. In order to gain a common understanding of the steps that help us drive EI, here is an analogy of driving a car. Brake, Mirrors, Gears, Rules and Steers help us navigate the traffic. Similarly, driving EI helps us navigate through difficult and challenging life situations.

These steps are sequential and need to be practised, especially when faced with challenging situations and people.

Brake: Pause and witness the stress caused by the situation and consciously reduce it

Mirrors: Witness the emotions you are experiencing and collect them together

Gears: Shift perspective and approach whenever necessary to overcome challenges and difficulties in life

Rules: Following the rule of EI helps to communicate with respect and dignity

Steer: Steering is about being persuasive and influencing, thereby attracting the attention of others

The ability to manage emotions in a complex, fast-changing and uncertain world is a significant challenge for all of us. No effort is too small in building and driving Emotional Intelligence. 

Practice is key.