Good News about Emotional Intelligence

I’m glad to share with you stimulating ideas, tips and leads you might find useful, all having to do in some way with emotional intelligence – and beyond. Think of this as news to use.

Let's dive in...

Good News about Emotional Intelligence

A new report from Microsoft,? about 300 million jobs in the future will be impacted by artificial intelligence. This will mean a new way of working -- AI and humans side-by-side. And a global survey of leaders, the report says, targets three abilities as the “new core competencies”: analytical reasoning, flexibility, and emotional intelligence.?

This conclusion comes from Microsoft’s new Work Trend Index report, a globalsurvey of 31,000 people.

And the BBC reports that while AI will impact millions of jobs in the future, there are two key skill sets its unlikely to overtake: innovation and emotional intelligence.

At the same time, there’s good news for anyone who wants to enhance their emotional intelligence. Belgian researchers report a meta-analysis of more than 150 separate studies with a total of 51,000 people finds that emotional intelligence is a critical skill for career success.

The report highlights the key role adaptability – one of a dozen competencies in my EI model – plays in adjusting to new work realities and coping with any difficulties they might bring.

Another aspect of emotional intelligence that helps over the course of your career stems from the EI strengths of self-awareness and self-management: the self-confidence that you can handle your emotional reactions to whatever surprises work (or life) bring.

The research showed that people higher in EI are more satisfied with their jobs – that is, less likely to quit – which signals they make better career decisions in keeping with their motive and interest, and can adapt to the realities of their job.

And because they are better at managing their own emotions, they tend to be easier to work with, more popular among their workmates – the people others like to be around.

The really good news: the research makes clear that the emotional intelligence skills set is learnable.

Unlike our IQ, which is fairly fixed from birth, EI is learned in life – and can be improved at any point, if we are motivated.

Which brings me to announce the next round of my emotional intelligence online course, starting in July.

Here’s a testimony from one of the many who have already gone through this EI program:

“This course was the best gift I could ever give myself!! I am a business owner and on a very busy schedule. I can sometimes lack empathy for myself and others. I have worked really hard on putting what we are learning about emotional intelligence into practice. … I have really felt a shift in my life and have been getting positive feedback from the people closest to me, including my husband, my daughter, and my management team. They all noticed a positive change in the way I communicated, engaged, and connected with them.”

And another:

“The Daniel Goleman EI Course came at the perfect time for me. I was navigating a career change after 20 years with the same company. The self-awareness activities made me realize that even though I was excited to be starting my dream job, all endings come with loss and challenging emotions. Through the coursework and resources, I worked through the emotions I was experiencing and realigned myself to my core values. I am happy to say I have embraced my new career and am finding much more success!”?

Register now. The next cohort starts July 10th!

next up...

Handling Difficult People

“What can you do about a difficult person at work – the know-it-all, the person who talks too much in meetings? You know who I mean,” I was asked by a reporter.

I gave her three pieces of advice, all applications of emotional intelligence.

First, realize that you are being triggered by this person.

Self-awareness, the cornerstone of emotional intelligence means you know what you are feeling and why, how it shapes your perceptions and intentions, and how it impacts getting your own work done well.

Second, if you find you are triggered, then apply self-management tactics, particularly putting the competence of Emotional Balance into practice. This helps you recover more quickly from being upset.

Third, try a little empathy. Tune into that troublesome person and see if you can figure out why they are being so upsetting.

What’s happening to them, in their life at home perhaps or pressures on them at work?

Taking the other person’s perspective can help you see the larger picture of their reality – not just fixate on how they are upsetting you.

And finally...

An Honor (blush ??)

Harvard, where I went to grad school, has awarded me a medallion for my work on emotional intelligence.? Here’s what they say:

“The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) will present the Centennial Medal to six distinguished alumni on May 24, 2023, culminating a year of celebration of the School’s 150th anniversary. The Centennial Medal, which recognizes those who have made fundamental and lasting contributions to knowledge, their disciplines, their colleagues, and society, is the highest honor that the Harvard Griffin GSAS bestows."

"Through award-winning journalism, bestselling books, public speaking engagements, and nonprofit leadership, Daniel Goleman has enshrined the concept of emotional intelligence in the classroom, in the boardroom, and in the public consciousness. His 1995 book Emotional Intelligence popularized the concept and garnered widespread attention and acclaim, earning a spot on The New York Times?bestseller list for a year and a half. Subsequent works, including his 1998 Harvard Business Review?article “What Makes a Leader?”, brought the concept of emotional intelligence to the business world."

I am honored to have received this award. Here is a screenshot from the livestream of last week's event.