Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

Introduction

Emotional Intelligence might be one of the key aspects of leadership. The purpose of this writing is to achieve the conclusion whether or not emotional intelligence (EI) is worth teaching in business courses to educate future leader. This writing will be divided five parts. First of all, it will explain emotional intelligence, include definition and some fundamental aspects. Afterwards, some possible reasons to be taught EI in business courses will be provided. Following that, it will state that how leaders who have EI skills apply in business. Accordingly, it will explain that relationship between EI and motivation. Finally, it will provide conclusion and recommendations.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is defined as ‘the ability to perceive, assess, and manage one’s emotions and those of others, include groups (Oxford Reference Online, 2008). According to Goleman (2000, p.80), there are four element abilities which include ‘self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness and social-skill’.

Why would Emotional Intelligence be useful for teaching in business courses?

Nowadays, it has been slightly changed required abilities of leadership and EI would be one of them. Rivera (2010, p.14) comments that ‘leadership has become inclusive and emotionally intelligent’. Although it does not mean that acquiring more knowledge in order to be EI person, it can be taught in different aspects in business courses (Boyatzis, 2007).

Ferris (2009) states that there are three reasons why it should be taught in business course. Increasingly demands of EI students, acquired ‘interpersonal communications and relations’, is one (Ferris, 2009, p.23). Additionally, it is an opportunity to experience traditional and non-traditional ways to delivery their emotions. Lastly, students can share the ideas from different background and discuss each other and understand it more efficiently....