Emotional intelligence is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection, and influence.  -Robert K. Cooper, PhD

When Daniel Goleman’s the books titled Emotional Intelligence and Working with Emotional Intelligence was first published in 1995 and 1998 respectively, Emotional Intelligence was considered a very relevant subject. We all learned how high IQ can get punctured in the absence of EQ. However, in the post dot-com IT era when we have a life more competitive and more stressful, the subject of EQ needs revisiting.

Yes, in times of FOMO and FOBO, EQ is a critical skill. Organisations are on the edge and IT is making the business model go for the toss in every few years. Owners and employees are becoming nuts. Thriving on chaos the term and book coined by Tom Peters is all the more relevant today. 2017 is more chaotic than 1991 when the book was first written.

This chaos is draining the employees daily. Their EQ is fluctuating daily. Their family and personal life are impacted by this fluctuating EQ. It becomes difficult for them to believe in what Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita about Karma.

It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of someone else’s life with perfection.

You have the right only on Action, Not on the fruits of your work.

When we do not know the rules of nature governing us i.e. Karma, we fear, Fear of better opportunity or Fear of missing out, or fear of the future, fear of competition, and fear of chaos, constant fear is making us lose our confidence. Low or no confidence is perilous.

“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” Marcus Garvey

Self-mastery is critical in these times of rapid change and chaos.  There is a complete section on Self-mastery in the book Working with Emotional Intelligence.

“The capacity of emotional intelligence can grow stronger with the accumulating experiences life brings us….. The classic term for this strengthening of our guiding sensibility is wisdom.”

The author suggests Self-awareness is a necessary means to superior performance. Self-awareness brings emotional awareness, self-assessment, and self-confidence.

“For those who lack self-confidence, every failure confirms a sense of incompetence. The absence of self-confidence can manifest itself in feelings of helplessness, powerlessness and crippling self-doubt.”

The author writes,” People with self-confidence believe themselves to be catalysts, movers, and initiators and feel that their abilities stack up favourably in caparison to others.”

Our emotional imbalance can make us angry at the least of irritation or stress, increase our blood pressure and brings other health issues. Self-control and self-awareness is very important. Our expertise and IQ need the support of our EQ.

If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far. -Daniel Goleman, from Emotional Intelligence.

Both the books Emotional Intelligence and Working with Emotional Intelligence are a well-researched books and offer many real life examples. These are must read books for everyone, employees, employers and their families.