Emotional Intelligence: Professor Helen E. Whiteley, BSc(Hons), PhD, CPychol., AFBPsS, FHEA

• What is emotion?

• What is intelligence?

• What is emotional intelligence (EI)?

• Why is EI important?– Ei and Health professionals– Ei and Leadership

• What are your EI strengths?

• How can we develop EI?

Overview

The case of the frozen policemen: a true story

Emotions: what are they?

• Components:– Physiological arousal

• Heart rate, temperature, sweating, facial flushing

– Subjective experience• What it feels like to be happy, sad, angry, afraid

– Behavioural expression• Facial expression, posture, gestures, tone of voice• Different facial expressions are associated with

different emotions, some are universally recognised: Fear, anger, sadness, happiness, surprise, disgust: powerful emotions/ survival value

6 universal facial expressions

Intelligence and Multiple Intelligences

• Gardner (1983) recognized that:– Intelligence is far more than just problem-

solving, far more than the number of A levels you have or your degree classification

– Individuals have strengths in different areas of behaviour – there are different ways of “being smart”

Multiple intelligences

• Gardner identified the following 7 intelligences:– musical intelligence– linguistic intelligence– logical-mathematical intelligence– spatial intelligence– bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence– the personal intelligences

– interpersonal intelligence (others)

– intrapersonal intelligence (ourselves)

– These are related to emotional intelligence & can be learned

What is Emotional Intelligence?

“Anyone can become angry ….. that is easy.

But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way …. that is not easy.”

(Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics)

What is Emotional Intelligence?

“The capacity for recognising our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.”

(Goleman, 1995)

The Conceptual Model of EI

Self awareness

Self management

Other awareness(Empathy)

Relationship management

SELF OTHERS

Aw

are

ness

Acti

on

s

Positive impact on

others

The Competency Framework (12)

Self AwarenessEmotional Self-AwarenessSelf-Confidence

Social AwarenessEmpathyOrganisational Awareness

Self ManagementEmotional Self-ControlAdaptabilityAchievement OrientationPositive outlook

Relationship ManagementCoach and mentorInspirational LeadershipInfluenceConflict ManagementTeamwork

Research supports this

LowSelf-

Awareness

LowSelf-

Awareness

17% chance Social

Awareness

17% chance Social

Awareness

4% chanceSelf-

Management

4% chanceSelf-

Management

Is Self-Awareness really at the heart of the model?

ECI research has found that if people lack Self-

Awareness, their chances of having Self-Management and Social

Awareness are much reduced

Why is EI important?

• Those high on EI are:– Less aggressive, more prosocial. – Less likely to engage in tobacco & alcohol

consumption or have alcohol/drug-related problems

– Happier and more satisfied with life generally– Less likely to suffer from mental ill-health

(depression, loneliness, problem eating)– Likely to have large social networks/have good

quality friendships – Likely to be more effective learners – Likely to have better career success

Why bother to develop EI?

• Research indicates:–Managers with higher levels of EI:

• experience less stress,

• better health,

• higher levels of morale

• and report better quality of life (UMIST, 2001)

EI and the Healthcare

• Cognitive and technical competence essential

• Also – emotional and social competencies: EI

• Why?

EI and the Healthcare arena

• Fewest symptoms of burnout reported by nurses with highest EI levels (Gerits et al, 2005)

• In a cardiac care unit where nurses exhibited negative emotions & depressed moods, the unit had a patient death rate 4x higher than units that showed positive & uplifting emotions (Goleman, 2002)

EI and Leadership

• What makes a good leader?– According to Goleman (1998):

“effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: they all have a high degree of emotional intelligence…..”

• Why might EI skills be important for effective leadership? (Best leader/worst leader scenario)

“We are being judged by a new yardstick:

Not just how smart we are,

Or by our training and expertise,

But also how well we handle ourselves

And each other.” (Daniel Goleman, Working with Emotional

intelligence, 1998)

Why is EI important?

How can we develop EI skills?

Five stages:1) Identify your ideal self (or the ideal EI skills

needed for your current/future challenges)2) Identify your real self3) Specify any gaps, establish your goals and

establish a list of activities to help reach them, i.e. compile a learning agenda & timescale.

4) Experimentation, practice and reflection5) Support through trusting relationships (e.g.

practice mentor/tutor)

Summary

• Emotional intelligence– Social and emotional skills essential for

effective learning, effective leadership, healthcare professionals

– 4 core areas: self-awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship management

– Can be learned/developed