Emotional Intelligence Traditionally, Human Intelligence Has Been

Emotional Intelligence

Traditionally, human intelligence has been judged by the ability to process information and retain the knowledge of those lessons. People take I.Q. (intelligence quotient) tests in order to find out how smart they are without taking into consideration the idea that perhaps there are other ways of determining how smart a person really is. There are other intelligences besides that of the intellect which can be just as important in finding out how effective a person will be in a position of supervision in the working world. Of particular importance is a person's emotional intelligence. This is the way someone reacts emotionally to a stimulus, whether positive or negative. Personal qualities, such as emotional intelligence, are what truly determine how well a person will function in a supervisory position. Every one of a person's experiences will shape his or her emotional intelligence, which is the ability to utilize emotion and experience to react properly in a given situation.

In the business world, no matter what type of business a person is engaged in, intelligences of the emotions will help in deciding the best course of action. According to Goleman (1998), many employers are beginning to see and not the importance of emotional intelligence. In my own experiences, I have found that there is as much importance placed on intellect as emotion. People who are placed in a position of power will have to, at some point, make important decisions which affect all the people who are around you. Supervisors want to hire someone who is smart and who they can rely on to make correct choices. However, they often neglect to ensure that the person is also in possession of emotional intelligence, which can often be more important. Some aspects of emotional intelligence can include listening and oral communication, adaptability and creative responses to setbacks and obstacles, personal management and confidence, group and interpersonal effectiveness, and effectiveness in the organization (Goleman 1998,-page 12-13). Being in a position of responsibility can be stressful, particularly if the person has not been similarly responsible before. Employers want to hire people who they know are well-equipped to handle such stressful situations in the best possible manner.