Here’s a quick guide.

Have you ever wondered what Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is? Why is it such a sought after skill and attribute among successful leaders of organisations today?The 3 top challenges faced by leaders today identified by a recent survey of  business coaches were:

• interpersonal skills, listening skills and empathy;
• influence; and
• self-awareness.

These correspond to three of the 4 components of Daniel Goleman’s definition of EQ. Today I’d like to summarise Daniel Goleman’s model so you can gain a fuller appreciation of EQ and whether there is scope for you, or someone you know, to learn more about it.

Unlike IQ, no one can summarise your EQ in a single number. We don’t have a fixed profile of emotional intelligence – it’s an ability that can change throughout life.

Think of EQ in terms of competencies in 4 different areas of personal ability:

A.    Self-Awareness – knowing one’s internal states, preferences, resources and intuitions;

B.    Self-Management – managing one’s internal states, impulses, and resources;

C.    Social Awareness – how people handle relationships and awareness of others’ feelings, needs, and concerns;

D.    Relationship Management – skill or adeptness at inducing desirable responses in others.

Nested within each of these four areas are specific, learned competencies that set the best leaders apart from the average.

Self-Awareness contains 3 competencies:
•    Emotional awareness – recognising one’s emotions and their effects
•    Accurate Self-Assessment – knowing one’s strengths and limits
•    Self Confidence – a strong sense of one’s self worth and capabilities

Self-Management contains 6 competencies:
•    Emotional Self Control – keeping disruptive emotions and impulses in check
•    Transparency – Maintaining integrity, acting congruently with one’s values
•    Adaptability – flexibility in handling change
•    Achievement – striving to improve or meeting a standard of excellence
•    Initiative – readiness to act on opportunities
•    Optimism – persistence in pursuing goals despite obstacles and setbacks

Social Awareness contains 3 competencies:
•    Empathy – sensing others’ feelings and perspectives, and taking an active interest in their concerns
•    Organisational Awareness – reading a group’s emotional currents and power relationships
•    Service Orientation – anticipating, recognising and meeting customers’ needs

Relationship Management contains 6 competencies:
•    Developing Others – sensing others’ development needs and bolstering their abilities
•    Inspirational Leadership – inspiring and guiding individuals and groups
•    Change Catalyst – initiating or managing change
•    Influence – wielding effective tactics for persuasion
•    Conflict Management – negotiating and resolving disagreements
•    Teamwork and Collaboration – working with others toward shared goals. Creating group synergy in pursuing collective goals.

The key to EQ is understanding your core emotions compared to your transient emotions. Your core emotions are driven by your temperament. You can use this as a rough personal checklist if you like. But we are not always the best judge of our own strengths and limits.  A great way of getting a more complete understanding of your behaviours and what’s driving them is an extended DISC analysis. 

I am an extended DISC consultant and trainer and as part of my close network I’d love to offer you a special price on getting a full 24 page eDISC report. Please contact me here to find out more.

If you want the best appraisal of your own abilities within your organisation, I recommend getting a 360-degree review based on this EQ competency list, and then formal coaching to guide and help you gain more strength in the areas you identify as needing attention.

It’s never too late to get better at EQ. As a transformational business coach I focus my leadership coaching on the development of EQ ingredients as crucial steps in the personal and leadership development journey.

Should you or someone in your network need assistance in any aspects of EQ, including more information on eDISC or to implement a 360 degree review, please get in touch.