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Introduction to Emotional Intelligence - Part I
May 31, 2008 | Author: admin | Filed under: People Issues
Introduction to Emotional Intelligence - Part I (#1 in the series Introduction to Emotional Intelligence)
By Phil de Kock
A project is a high pressure, high performance environment. As a result, stress frustration and conflict are more than often permanent features of the daily routine of project managers and team members. It is for this reason that I decided to dedicate time to writing an article related to emotional intelligence, starting of with a basic question:
What are emotions?
The (somewhat)philosophical answer is “they are the messengers of the soul!”.
On the question why emotions are important, the following quote provides us with important insight:
“Feelings (emotions we feel) provide us with vital and potentially profitable information every minute of the day. This feedback from the heart, and not the head, is what ignites creative genius, keeps you honest with yourself, shapes trusting relationships, provides an inner compass for your life and career, guides you to unexpected possibilities, and may even save you or your organization from disaster”. - Robert Cooper
Since the late 18th century reason has dominated life’s endevours, at the cost of the emotional.
This paradigm was reflected in most of the things we studied and how we viewed human potential and functioning. Intelligence and also the testing of intelligence dominated the application of psychology and these tests were more than often based on the ability to do things in a logical fashion (verbally, numerically and the like).
The tide slowly turned with a realization that these rational abilities do not necessarily predict success in the industrial and personal life settings of human beings, and that a broader concept of intelligence is required (more along the lines that the ability to cope with one’s environment is true intelligence).
Howard Gardner (1983) however creates a profound shift with his acknowledgment of more than one type of intelligence and coin the phrase “Do not ask how smart you are, ask how you are smart”.
Peter Salovey and John Mayer (1990), became aware of a special type of intelligence (emotional) that is a major predictor of work success, a concept that is later popularized by Daniel Goleman. In terms of this theory the following abilities have a hugely positive influence on work and life success:
- Understanding and controlling your own emotions;
- Understanding others feelings and emotions;
- Developing and maintaining sound relationships
In conclusion a few quotes:
“Reason without emotion is neurologically impossible” - Dr. Antonio Damasio - Descartes’ Error: Emotions, Reason and the Human Brain
” Know thyself” - Socrates
Phil de Kock is an organization and management consultant with a career span of more than 20 years in several disciplines, including finance and admin, quality, project management as well as human and organization development.
His career development from a very junior level as a finance cashier to managing partner of a medium sized consulting firm is backed by sound growth and development at an academic level. Philip consequently has obtained a masters degree in people and organization development and is currently reading for his PhD. He is the co author of several publications and received awards for his post graduate academic achievements.
In addition to being visiting lecturer in project management he also trained more than 250 students in the relevant discipline during 2006/7. In addition, he published about and presented public courses dealing with ROI of Training, HR Scorecards, and Metrics as well as Job and Competency Profiling.
He consulted to various companies, including Namdeb (De Beers Namibia), Deb Marine, Anglo Base Metals (Skorpion Zinc) as well as public sector organization such as the Health Professions and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council. His most recent work include lecturing on project management, leadership and Human Resources Management at the institutions that include the Centre for Learning, Training and Development (WITS University), Varsity College (ADVTECH Group Ltd) and Global Business School.
Phil runs a professional project management blog: Project Management For The Rest of Us.
Related Articles
- Introduction to Emotional Intelligence - Part II
- ITIL:What It Is and Why You Should Care - Part I - Introduction
- How To Successfully Create An Internal Project Management Certification Program For Your State - Part I - Introduction
- The Purposes and Methods of Practical Project Categorization - Part I - Introduction
- Successfully Interviewing Your Project Customer and Gathering Project Requirements - Part I - Introduction
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