Understanding the Importance of Being Emotionally Intelligent
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify, express, understand and manage others' and ones own emotions. Research has been equivocal to whether this is a trait or ability, nonetheless research has supported emotional intelligence's multiple benefits on both individual and group levels.
What are the benefits of being emotionally intelligent?
A literature review by Laborde et al. (2015) found emotional intelligence has a positive influence on team and individual athletic performance. More specifically, Crombie et al. (2009) found a cricket team's emotional intelligence positively predicted their performance (i.e. the team was more likely to perform better).
Emotional intelligence plays a role in performance outside of sport. Quoidbach & Hansenne (2009) found a team of nurses who were able to regulate their emotions were more likely to meet the requirements of their job. Contrarily, not all dimensions of emotional intelligence are beneficial to job performance. The nurses in the study who were able to evaluate their own and others' emotions were found to have a negative relationship with meeting their job requirements (i.e. lower job performance).
The level of emotional intelligence an individual has can impact the emotions they experience. Relative to sport, Lane et al. (2009) found ultra-endurance runners (racing 175 miles in 6 stages) more able to evaluate their emotions experienced less unpleasant emotions (anger, confusions, depression, fatigue, &tension) and more pleasant emotions (calmness & happiness), compared to those who weren't as emotionally intelligent. Suggesting, our emotional experiences can be shifted depending on our level of emotional intelligence.
Finally, higher levels of emotionally intelligence has an influence on our stress response. Laborde et al. (2011) found biological markers of stress were lower in those who were more emotionally intelligent. Meaning a lower stress response was experienced by emotionally intelligent people. Furthermore, these individuals were more likely to view a stressful situation as a challenge rather than a threat (Mikolajczak & Luminet, 2008).
Take home message
Emotional intelligence can lead to:
✅ Greater individual and team performance
✅Better stress management
✅Experience more pleasant emotions
Article by Edgar Chekera