Emotional Intelligence

As discussed above, emotional management is an important aspect of leadership; how a manager handles this is, in large part, a reflection of his or her emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence encompasses non-cognitive skills, abilities, and competencies that allow you to handle those environmental demands and pressures (these can trigger forms of emotional arousal, a possible source of dysfunctional influence).  Emotional intelligence operates in two domains: the management of your own emotions and those of others.  Leaders are not always fully aware of this duality and what it requires of them.

Emotional intelligence has four dimensions:

Emotional Dimensions

Emotional self-awareness:	the degree to which you understand your own emotions and feelings;
Emotional self-management:	the degree to which you are able to manage your own emotions and impulses;
Emotional self-motivation:	your ability to persist in the face of setbacks and failures; and
Other's emotional management (empathy):	the ability to sense others’ emotional states and to respond appropriately.

In the video below, Maureen Rabotin discusses emotional intelligence in the workplace. Watch the video then think about the relationship between what Rabotin discusses in the video and this lesson's readings. Click the white arrow to launch the video.