Importance of Emotional Intelligence

In the past when IQ was a measurement of one’s intelligence, it was considered to be a priority in education considerations.

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The arise of EQ gives another perspective of the importance of how emotions can play an important part in any workplace.

Most people are well-aware of IQ but not everyone knows EQ.

There are different definitions of EQ by different well-known authors.

Is emotional intelligence just about the capacity to recognise our personal feelings as well as the feelings of those around us?

It was said that it is the contributing factors for motivating ourselves as well as managing our emotions in different circumstances.

Do we also need emotional intelligence in our relationship management?

Emotional Intelligence may just be the ability that helps individual to cope with demands and pressures of work and environment.

Based on careerbuilder.com, it shared that 71% of employers valued EQ over IQ. 51% would not hire someone with high IQ but low EQ.

In this age, what are the possible attributes at employers want?

• Have strong and good work ethic

• Have a positive attitude

• Have good communication skills that can relate to others

• Have good conversation skills that can have a good meaningful discussion

• Ability to do a good presentation

• Ability to manage time well

• Ability to have empathy for others and make them feel respected

• Able to perceive others well like their personality, their strengths, their emotions etc

• Able to build relationship and connect with others

• Ability to solve problems

• Able to work as a team

• Humility to accept criticism

• Flexibility and adaptability

• Integrity and honesty

If the above attributes are what employers want, do most of them fall under IQ or EQ?

I believe most teachers can identify that EQ plays an important part for their future job demands.

What are the implications for teachers then?

Regardless of the level of EQ, we must believe that EQ can be nurtured even for pupils who show signs of low EQ during classroom discussions.

This article is not about giving you the solution but it is about raising your awareness of the need to raise the EQ level in your pupils.

Further research should be done for a greater pool of ideas.

Some ideas of nurturing EQ

In our modern classroom, student-centred lessons were greatly encouraged.

Group activities where we give pupils opportunities to work as a team.

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With EQ in mind, these activities should not just be building the subject objectives needed but opportunities for interaction and how to iron out disagreement when they work as a team.

Teachers can act as facilitators and coach pupils how to interact and discuss problems more effectively with guided question cards if there is a serious need for some pupils.

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Intentional social interaction and problem-solving opportunities can lead to many benefits to enhance the EQ level of our pupils.

What are the possible aims for EQ with subject outcomes to cater with as well?

Get pupils to know themselves

• Increase self-awareness

• Emotional awareness

• Identify their own patterns or routines

• Evaluate their own thinking, feeling and why they react in certain way

Accept how they are and move on from there

• Acknowledge their own areas of weakness

• Accept when they get too emotional and how to manage it

• Exercise optimism

• Able to see the cause and effect

• Find personal meaning of what they need to do

In a nutshell, we should focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) to enable students to recognise and manage their own emotions as well as have the awareness of others’ emotions resulting establishment of positive relationships where they can make responsible decision.

Disclaimer: This is my personal reflection and I am not in any position to instruct anyone what they should do. I am not responsible for any action taken as a result of this post. My post can only be a reference for your further research and growth. By reading this post, you acknowledge and accept that. All images and pictures were taken from google images that are free from copyright under labelled for reuse.

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://fun2learn.vornix.blog/2018/07/23/importance-of-emotional-intelligence/

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