Emotional Intelligence: concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance

https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper4/emotional-intelligence 

“When awareness is brought to emotions, power is brought to our life.” 

Aristotle has said that “Anyone can become angry- that is easy, but to be angry with right person at right time and for the right purpose – that is not within everyone’s power and that is not easy”. 

 

1. 1. Definition 

   • ○Emotional Intelligence is ability to monitor one’s own and other people’s emotions, to differentiate between different types of emotions and use the emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.  

   • ○EQ vs IQ  

     • •Measure of emotional understanding v/s intelligence  

     • •Social skills v/s Tactical skills  

     • •More convincing v/s more logical  

     • •Help in developing consensus around a policy vs help in understanding policy 

     Therefore, IQ alone is not enough for success. It can only get a person into job but to be successful in the job, that person needs to cooperate and collaborate with others where EQ plays an important role. 

      

2. 2.Domains or components of emotional intelligence 

   • ○Using Golman model to define components of EI:- 

   • ○Self-awareness  

     • •It is the ability to form an accurate model of oneself, knowledge of one's strength and weaknesses and understanding how to utilise one's strength and weaknesses to encash the opportunities 

     • •It includes self-confidence, realistic self-assessment 

     Example: In a company, if a manager is competent but not good at his behaviour and he is not aware about this then he can offend others with his behaviour. 

     Example: Sachin Tendulkar knew about his strength, i.e. cricket rather than studies. 

      

   • ○Self-regulation  

     • •It is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts and behaviours effectively in different situations. It includes trustworthiness and integrity; self-control; ability to adapt; openness to change etc 

     Example: If a person working in a company, is excited about some good news and want to take leave but the boss is angry at the moment then he/she has to regulate his/her emotions for some time to ask for leave. 

     Example: Due to self-regulation, Gandhiji was able to handle the situation after Chauri-Chaura incident even after facing criticism 

      

     • •Improve their behavior (verbal, working relations, physical) with others which maximizes their output  

     • •It includes staying calm which enhances rational decision making and prevents impulsive and rash decisions 

   • ○Intrinsic motivation 

     • •It refers to finding internal reasons to work beyond external rewards like money and status and thus motivate to Deliver their best and hence achieve better results 

     • •It includes strong passion for the work, ability to counteract disappointment 

     Example: The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous stress on the doctors and they had to find internal motivation for keep working for patients. 

     Example: The scarcity of sports infrastructure in our country requires strong internal motivation for Olympians, Paralympians etc. 

      

     • •Inspire other and become a role model 

     • •Capability to drive enthusiasm in their teams 

   • ○Empathy 

     • •Empathy refers to the ability to imagine oneself in another's place and understand the others' feelings, desires, ideas and actions 

     • •Eg: civil servant to have empathy for displaced tribes, Gandhi had empathy for untouchables 

     • •Can understand the mind-set of others better and hence can get work done more easily 

     • •Better team players  

     • •Emotional bonding with people which works better than authority  

   • ○Social skills (verbal/non-verbal communication) 

     • •It includes proficiency in handling relationships and building social networks, and the ability to find common ground and to build rapport 

     • •Crisp and precise expression is key to communicate effectively  

     • •Knows the words and tonality to be used as per situations, i.e when to be firm and when to be accommodating 

     Example: Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhari walked unarmed into the crowd of protestors and appealed to students to remain peaceful while recognising their right to protest. 

      

     

   "The key to transforming our hearts and minds is to have an understanding of how our thoughts and emotions work."- Dalai Lama 

3. 3.Supplementary (See from Prahaar) 

 

 

Importance of EI in civil services/administration 

 

 

 

4. 4.Social intelligence 

5. 5.Emotions (from Prahaar)