Emotional Intelligence. Meaning and Significance for Individuals and Collectives

Contents

List of abbreviations

1 Introduction

2. Definition of emotional intelligence

3. Concepts of emotional intelligence

4. Emotional intelligence as important skill for individuals dealing with change

5. Emotional intelligence from an organizational perspective

6. Conclusion

Bibliography

List of abbreviations

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

1. Introduction

Humanity currently faces the outset of a revolution considered to be the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The weighty effects are already disruptively changing production, consumption, transportation and delivery systems through the introduction of new business models. The scale in which all areas of business including all involved parties are impacted has unlikely been seen before in history (Oosthoizen, 2016, p. 370). According to Schwab, the innovations of 4IR will redefine what it means to be human. Progress in fields such as lifespan, health, cognition, and capabilities will reach levels that presently have to be seen merely in science fiction (Schwab, 2016, p.93).

The challenges these changes bring along needs to be met on a macro level (large systems such as nations, economies and legal systems), meso level (medium systems such as organizations, communities and political parties) and micro-level (small systems such as families, relationships and individuals).

Yval Noah Harari points out in his book "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" that we have no idea what the world will look like in 2050 and that we should center our interest at general­purpose life skills. As reported by Harari the most important skill for the 21st Century will be the ability to deal with change and to preserve mental balance in unfamiliar situations. The disruptive technological impacts will make it necessary to reinvent yourself again and again. Holding on to a stable identity, job or world view induces the risk of being left behind. Harari emphasizes that a great amount of mental flexibility and emotional intelligence will be needed to survive and prosper in the future (Harari, 2019, p. 231). Harari's macro historian view on the world is widely appreciated so that this paper will analyze emotional intelligence and its correlation of individuals and organizations to orient themselves in a constantly changing world.

An individual can perceive change as either being an opportunity or being threatening. In dependence on this perception positive emotions such as excitement, enthusiasm, and creativity (Goleman et al., 2002) or negative emotions like anger, fear and resentment are triggered (French 2001).

This paper aims at clarifying the concept of emotional intelligence and verifying its importance in the context of change for an individual as well as an organization or company. Given the outlook of Oosthoizen and Harari adaptability to change will be one of the key challenges in the 21st Century. The objective of this paper is to provide answers to the questions of what emotional intelligence is about and how it can be utilized in the context of personal life and workplace. Therefore, definitions will be provided for the relevant terminology in chapter three and afterwards, the components and models of emotional intelligence will be laid out in chapter four. In chapter five will focus on the applicability of emotional intelligence in challenging situations for individuals such as change of fundamental life conditions. This section will also present a look at how an individual can improve its emotional intelligence. On that basis, this paper will swift its perspective from the micro level to meso-level and will examine emotional intelligence in the context of organizations and companies and give recommendations for its execution.

2. Definition of emotional intelligence

Emotions are organized reactions intersecting boundaries of several psychological subsystems such as physiological, cognitive, motivational and experiential systems. Regularly emotions arise in response to an internal or external event that is perceived to have an intense positive or negative meaning to an individual. Emotions are closely related to the concept of mood nevertheless emotions are shorter and more energetic (Salovey, Mayer, 1990, p. 186). Wechsler defines intelligence as "the aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally and to deal effectively with his environment" (Salovey, Mayer, 1990, p. 186). In accordance to Salovey and Mayer's propose on emotional intelligence, it is defined as the ability of an individual to monitor the emotions of oneself and others. The capability of distinguishing between good and bad emotions and deducing appropriate measures from these pieces of information (Salovey, Mayer, 1990, S. 189). In the center of emotional intelligence stands the creation of conscious and intelligent actions regarding one's own and other's emotional responses to particular situations (Lazovic, 2012, p. 799).

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