This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Definitions: What Exactly is Emotional Intelligence?
You may have heard different definitions of emotional intelligence (EI) – many centring on mindfulness, introspection, and an awareness of communication with others. While these ideas touch on their essence, EI is so much more, offering a transformative impact on our relationships, personal growth, and overall wellbeing.
Emotional intelligence is a relatively new concept in psychology, originating in the 1980s when researchers Mayer and Salovey introduced the idea of EI as an ability – something people vary in and can develop over time. According to them, EI is a set of abilities that helps us understand and manage emotions in ourselves and others.
Since then, other researchers have offered different perspectives. Psychologist Reuven Bar-On, for example, saw EI as part of our personality, suggesting that certain people are naturally more emotionally intelligent than others. Later, Daniel Goleman popularised a more holistic, “mixed model” approach, which combines traits, abilities, and other key factors like motivation and teamwork.
One question often raised about EI is how to define it clearly and measure it effectively. After all, if we can’t precisely define EI, how can we apply it in meaningful ways? This challenge led to the development of a practical definition by Lansley in 2020, which frames EI as:
“The ability to perceive, understand and influence our own and others’ emotions, across a range of contexts, to guide our current thinking and actions, to help us to achieve our goals.”
This definition is significant because it captures the core of EI in everyday life. It shows that EI is not just about being “in touch” with emotions; it’s about actively using emotional insights to make choices, improve communication, and achieve goals.
Among a group of EI researchers, including experts who contributed to the original models, 76% agreed on Lansley’s definition. This consensus is meaningful because it emphasises EI as an ability that can be developed – just like any other skill.
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters and How It Can Change Your Life
Understanding and developing EI can help with personal and professional development. Think about the last time you faced a stressful situation or a challenging conversation at work. Your ability to handle that moment – whether it was staying calm, responding thoughtfully, or resolving conflict – likely drew on your EI.
Developing EI impacts two main areas of our lives:
- Interpersonal EI involves recognising and understanding other people’s emotions. It helps us communicate effectively, build strong relationships, and work well with others.
- Intrapersonal EI is the ability to manage one’s emotions, stay controlled under pressure, and make clear-headed decisions even when emotions are triggered.
Research shows that working on EI can increase our skills in these areas. We can learn to pay attention to others’ emotions, communicate more effectively, and enhance our leadership and teamwork skills. Higher EI has also been linked to improved mental health and reduced stress.
Why Embrace EI Training?
The beauty of EI is that it’s a skill set anyone can improve with the proper training and guidance. This makes it an invaluable resource for personal and professional growth. Whether your goal is to become a more effective leader, enhance client relationships, or navigate life’s challenges with resilience, developing EI can be a game-changer.
Definitions are important, firstly, so we know we are talking about the same thing when we discuss it. Second, having a clear definition of EI is a strong base for building training programmes around its development.
I hope this article has covered some important ground by providing a clear definition of EI. In the future, I will build on this and focus on the different component abilities that make up EI.
References:
Lansley, C. (2020). Emotionintell: A generic Emotional Intelligence model. https://core.ac.uk/download/396057438.pdf