ALL about Goleman's Emotional Intelligence

Summary, forum, best practices, expert tips and resources.

All about Emotional Intelligence and other management methods. Completely free.

12manage is a knowledge sharing platform about management with over 1 million participants. Click for more info...

Emotional Intelligence history

When psychologists began to write and think about intelligence, they initially focused on cognitive aspects, such as memory and problem-solving. However, some researchers recognized the importance of non-cognitive aspects early on:

Robert Thorndike was writing about social intelligence in 1937,
David Wechsler defined intelligence as the aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally, and to deal effectively with his environment (Wechsler, 1958, p. 7). Already in 1940 Wechsler referred to non-intellective as well as intellective elements (Wechsler, 1940), by which he meant affective, personal, and social factors. Furthermore, already in 1943 Wechsler was proposing that the non-intellective abilities are essential for predicting ones ability to succeed in life.
Howard Gardner began to write about multiple intelligence in 1983. He proposed that intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences and the type of intelligence (typically measured by IQ and related tests) are equally important.
Salovey and Mayer actually coined the term emotional intelligence in 1990. They described emotional intelligence as "a form of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor own and others feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide ones thinking and action" (Salovey & Mayer, 1990). Salovey and Mayer also initiated a research program intended to develop valid measures of emotional intelligence and to explore its significance.

In doing the research for his first book, Daniel Goleman became aware of Salovey and Mayers work in the early 1990s. Being trained as a psychologist at Harvard, where he worked with David McClelland, Goleman wrote the popular bestseller "Emotional Intelligence" (1995), in which he offered the first ' proof' that emotional and social factors are important.

Five Domains of Emotional Intelligence

Goleman in 1995 agrees with Salovey's Five Main Domains of Emotional Intelligence (p. 43)

Knowing one's emotions. Self-awareness, recognizing a feeling while it happens.
Managing emotions. The ability of handling feelings so they are appropriate.
Motivating oneself. Marshalling emotions in the service of a goal.
Recognizing emotions in others. Empathy, social awareness.
Handling relationships. Skill in managing emotions in others.

Four domains of Emotional Intelligence

More recently, Goleman favors only Four Domains of EI. The 4 domains have 19 categories, as described in his 2002-book "Primal Leadership". 2 extra categories were added by the Hay Group:

Self-awareness (Emotional Self-Awareness. Accurate Self-Assessment and Self Confidence)
Self-management (Emotional Self-Control. Transparency (Trustworthiness). Adaptability. Achievement Orientation. Initiative. Optimism. Conscientiousness)
Social awareness (Empathy. Organizational Awareness. Service Orientation)
Relationship management (Inspirational Leadership. Influence. Developing Others. Change Catalyst. Conflict Management. Building Bonds. Teamwork and Collaboration. Communication)

An important thing to understand is that - according to Goleman - these EI competencies are not innate talents. They are learned abilities.

IQ or EI?

According to some scientists, IQ by itself is not a very good predictor of job performance. Hunter and Hunter (1984) estimated that at best IQ accounts for about 25 percent of the variance. Sternberg (1996) has pointed out that studies vary and that 10 percent may be a more realistic estimate. In some studies, IQ accounts for as little as 4 percent of the variance. In a recent meta-analysis examining the correlation and predictive validity of EI when compared to IQ or general mental ability, Van Rooy and Viswesvaran (2004) found IQ to be a better predictor of work and academic performance than EI. However, when it comes to the question of whether a person will become a "star performer" (in the top ten percent, however such performance is appropriately assessed) within that role, or be an outstanding leader, IQ may be a less powerful predictor than emotional intelligence (Goleman 1998, 2001, 2002).

IQ and EI: pure types

According to Goleman, IQ and EI should not be regarded as competencies with an opposite direction. They are rather separate competencies. People with a high IQ but low EI (or the opposite) are, despite the stereotypes, relatively rare. There is a correlation between IQ and some aspects of EI. The stereotypes (pure types) are:

(Pure) High-IQ male. He is typified - no surprise - by a wide range of intellectual interest and abilities. He is ambitious and productive. Predictable and dogged. And untroubled by concerns about himself. He also tends to be critical and condescending. Fastidious and inhibited. Uneasy with sexuality and sensual experience. Unexpressive and detached. And emotionally bland and cold.
(Pure) High-EI male. He is socially poised. Outgoing and cheerful. Not prone to fearfulness or worried rumination. He has a notable capacity for commitment to people or causes, for taking responsibility, and for having an ethical outlook. He is sympathetic and caring in his relationships. His emotional life is rich, but appropriate. He is comfortable with himself, others, and the social universe he lives in.
(Pure) High-IQ female. She has the expected intellectual confidence. Is fluent in expressing her thoughts. Values intellectual matters. And has a wide range of intellectual and aesthetic interests. She tends to be introspective. Prone to anxiety, rumination, and guilt. And hesitates to express her anger openly.
(Pure) High-EI female. She tend to be assertive and expresses her feelings directly. And feels positive about herself. Life holds meaning for her. She is outgoing and gregarious. And expresses her feelings appropriately. She adapts well to stress. Her social poise lets her easily reach out to new people. She is comfortable enough with herself to be playful, spontaneous, and open to sensual experience. She rarely feels guilty, or sinks into rumination.

Assessing and measuring Emotional Intelligence

Instruments used for measuring Emotional Intelligence

EQ-I (Bar-On, 1997): a self-report instrument to assess those personal qualities that enabled some people to possess better emotional well-being than others.
Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale (Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 1998): a test of ability where the test-taker performs a series of tasks that are designed to assess the persons ability to perceive, identify, understand, and work with emotion.
Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI) (Goleman, 1998): a 360 degree instrument, where people evaluate the individuals within an organization (Individual Feedback Reports). Or the organization as a whole (Work Force Audits). These audits can provide an organizational profile for any size group within the company. The Emotional Competence Inventory works with the 19/21 competencies described above (See under Four Domains of EI).

Book: Daniel Goleman - Emotional Intelligence -

Emotional Intelligence Special Interest Group

Special Interest Group (452 members)

Forum about Emotional Intelligence

Discussions about Emotional Intelligence.

	Goleman's 3 Questions to Increase your Emotional Intelligence To improve your Emotional Intelligence (EI) you have to know the areas where to focus your efforts. And you must underst (...)

🔥	NEW The Importance of Soft Skills for Young People Most young people aspiring to a job or already having one, do not realize the importance of developing soft skills until (...)

	The 4 Domains and 12 Competencies of Emotional Intelligence Don’t shortchange your development as a leader by assuming that emotional intelligence (EI) is all about being sweet and (...)

Best Practices about Emotional Intelligence

Here you find the most valuable discussions from the past.

🥇	Intelligence of the Heart I shall begin with some some real life incidents that happened to me. Incident 1: the girl standing up for her friend (...)

🥈	(How) Can I improve my Emotional Intelligence? Can we improve our EI? How can I learn to be more emotional intelligent, and how can I unlearn ineffective habits I may (...)

🥉	The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Emotional Intelligence skills influence people to self awareness, self managing, awareness of other people and relations (...)

	How to Moderate the Effect of Negative Moods on Your (Team's) Performance POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE MOODS You and your employees experience different moods. These moods can be roughly divided into (...)

	Emotional Intelligence and Age Does Emotional Intelligence increase or decrease when we grow older? Or is age irrelevant? (...)

	The Effects of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership It is well known nowadays that leadership is connected with emotions. Leaders who are able to manage their emotions and (...)

	Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence What are the differences between Soft Skills (SS) and Emotional Intelligence (EI)? What is the meaning and scope of the (...)

	The Role of Management in Developing EI and Soft Skills Previously, IQ and/or knowledge was seen by many as the main factor determining individual success, however, this paradi (...)

	Cross-cultural Validity of Emotional Intelligence To what extent is the Emotional Intelligence model valid cross-culturally? It appears EI derived out of Western thinking (...)

	Emotional Intelligence versus IQ I think we can link EQ with wisdom and IQ with knowledge. One can be knowledgeable with others knowledge but one cannot (...)

	Emotions versus Reason An emotion is an automatic response, an automatic effect of our value premises - therefore it is an effect not a cause. (...)

	3 Approaches Towards Emotional Intelligence In an article “Human Abilities: Emotional Intelligence” Mayer, Roberts and Barsade describe the theoretical appro (...)

	EQ / EI Questionaire Where can i find an inventory or questionnaire on EI / EQ? (...)

	Emotional Intelligence is NOT Opposite of Intelligence As indicated in the main text, it is very important to understand that emotional intelligence is NOT the opposite of int (...)

	Where does Wisdom come from? Why are some wiser? We see educated people but unwise. We see less literate people but wise. Is it one's thoughts which (...)

	How you Should Manage Yourself (Drucker) Peter Drucker (1999) emphasises several components of effective self-management. The underlying principle of one-own’s s (...)

	Emotional Intelligence - Better Predictor of Success then IQ Studies have shown that there is a direct co-relation between emotional intelligence and success in real life. A high IQ (...)

	Best Compliment: 'You must have a high EQ'. I had a wonderful compliment the other day. On meeting a man and him taking me out on our first date. It was the best co (...)

	Emotional Intelligence = Maturity? Would Emotional intelligence not be the same as maturity. Ordinarily, maturity comes with age, but sometimes you find a (...)

	Cleaning our Emotions The important thing about emotional intelligence is self awareness. It starts with knowing oneself, and with cleaning al (...)

	Emotional Intelligence of Groups and Companies I wonder, besides the obvious EI on the individual level, can we also observe Emotional Intelligent groups or even Emoti (...)

	Some Level of EQ and IQ Either Way is Needed A very intelligent person (high IQ) might be great to have around. But he has to have some emotional capacity (high EQ) (...)

	EI and Sensitivity for Subconscious Mind Has EI anything to do with being more sensitive or tolerant into the subconscious mind of other persons? (...)

	Are these Responses Proof of Emotional Intelligence? Suppose you were to choke while eating and I would bring you a glass of water. Or if you spilled water, without you hav (...)

	Mayer's Ability Model of Emotional Intelligence. Comparison Goleman The Ability Model of Mayer of Emotional Intelligence (EI) versus Goleman. Mayer has been the first who defined the conc (...)

	How can EQ and IQ be Combined? Of course, EQ and IQ can be combined in one individual. But how can we assess the extent to an individual is successful (...)

	Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Organisations I consider it very important for organisations to recognise the importance of EI and develop it amongst their management (...)

	Understanding Emotions Logically Through "social intelligence", which is about observing nonverbal behavior and understanding emotions, you can learn to (...)

Expert Tips about Emotional Intelligence

Here you will find advices by experts.

	Theory of Multiple Intelligences Skills Development (...)

	The Brain's Lymbic System is an Open-loop System. The Phenomenon of Mirroring EI Awareness (...)

	How to Develop Your / Someone's Emotional Intelligence? Emotional Intelligence Development, Coaching, Mentoring (...)

	How to Assess Your / Someone's Social Intelligence and Leadership Skills Social Intelligence, Leadership Development (...)

	Limitations of Emotional Intelligence EI Consulting, Coaching, Mentoring, Measuring Emotional Intelligence (...)

	The Importance of Self-awareness for Project Managers Professional Development, Personal Development, Project Management, Ethics, Beliefs, Values, Emotional Intelligence (...)

	Emotional Style and Leadership Performance Leadership Coaching, Understanding the Mechanisms behind Leadership (...)

	How to Develop Better Relational Skills? Human Resources, Leadership (...)

	Thorndike on Intelligence 1920 3 distinct types (...)

	Reasons and Remedies to Dissonance in Leaders Primal Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Stress, Cognitive Dissonance, Resonance (...)

	Bar-On Measure of EQ 1985 Measuring EQ (...)

	History of Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence, ESCI Model (...)

Information Sources about Emotional Intelligence

Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc.

	Facial Expressions Emotion Recognition (...)

	EI: What it is and Why it Matters History, Current Interest, Value of EI (...)

	Applying EI to a Job Interview Job Interviews (...)

	22 Guidelines for Best Practices Training EI at Work (...)

	Emotional Intelligence Conflict Management (...)

	Emotional Intelligence - A Leader’s Primer Emotional Intelligence (...)

	Interview Goleman on Emotional Intelligence Introduction to Emotional Intelligence (...)

	Emotional Intelligence: Job Performance and Career Success Emotional Intelligence, Management Development, Career Management, Career Assessments (...)

	The Influence of Emotions and Moods on Decision-Making and Entrepreneurship Decision Making, Emotional Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Cognitive Bias (...)

	Howard Gardner's Eight Intelligences Intelligences Research (...)

	NLP: The 6 Neurological Levels 6 layers to view at the reality of a person or issue (...)

	Advice to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence Improve Your Emotional Intelligence (...)

	Common Negative Feelings EI Education (...)

	Recognizing Stress in Yourself and Your People Coping with Stress, Avoiding Stress, Emotional Intelligence, Stress Management (...)

	Practical Communication Tips for Managers Management Skills, Leadership Skills, Management Development, Leadership Development, Situational Leadership (...)

	Managing Psychological Well-being in Workplaces Organizational Commitment, Performance Management, Stress Management, Workplace Management (...)

	Peer and Co-worker Relationships Relationship Management, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching, Emotional Work, Relationship at Work, Employee Relationships (...)

	Emotions In Finance and Economics Decision Making, Behavioral Economics, Behavioral Finance (...)

Return to Management Hub: Communication & Skills | Ethics & Responsibility | Human Resources | Leadership

More Management Methods, Models and Theory

Special Interest Group Leader

You here? Sign up for free

Emotional Intelligence (Goleman)