Emotional intelligence from technological ethopia to human touch at workplace

Pages:30-36
Shiney Chib (Datta Meghe Institute of Management Studies, Nagpur, Maharashtra)

Emotional intelligence refers to the capacity for organizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships. It appears that EQ relates to a number of non-cognitive skills, abilities, or competencies that influence an individual’s capacity to deal with environmental demands and pressures. Emotional Intelligence embraces and draws from numerous other branches of behavioral, emotional and communications theories, such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Transactional Analysis, and empathy. Most skilled employees are intelligent, but not emotionally intelligent. Many individuals who were extraordinarily intelligent when it came analytical skills and general intelligence, were deficient in emotional intelligence. While they were good with numbers and logic, they were bad when it came to being sociable, and they did not have a lot of friends. “Emotions are intense feelings that are directed towards someone or something, and are considered to be critical factors in employee behaviour”. –Stephen P. Robbins. Traditionally, it has for long widely acknowledged that emotions and feelings of individual workers have lesser role in work contribution and effective work place management. Decades of research has now confirmed what many people have suspected all along: it is EQ, not IQ, that determines how well someone will perform on the job. While this does not mean that technical skills and general intelligence should be ignored, some studies have indicated that emotional intelligence is twice as important. When it comes to leadership, EI is incredibly important, making the difference between effective and mediocre leadership.