top of page

Crisis Mindset No More! – Understanding Emotional Intelligence

Writer's picture: edu Grindedu Grind


The past two years have been a cycle of chaos, uncertainty and more. Issues that have always existed are all of sudden coming to light. The reality is as the world continues to deal with these events, whether positive or not, we as individuals must focus on ourselves with the most empathetic and giving lens. How can this be the case? Isn’t that being selfish? No, it is not. In order to help others in our field of education, first we must be able to take care of ourselves. Understanding oneself will lead to the constant development of understanding and serving others. Being selfish to provide selfless acts of service. How can a person do this? Three words, “with emotional intelligence”. Emotional intelligence was termed and developed by psychologists, Peter Salovey of Yale and John D. Mayer of UNH. Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, use, express and understand one’s emotions and others. Mayer and Salovey broke emotional intelligence into five key components: self-awareness, self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy, and social skills. All of which makes great leaders in a classroom, school, or overall greater community. Developing one’s emotional intelligence can build a great relationship with oneself and others. It is one of the key concepts in any successful partnership created. Therefore, it is particularly one of the most important abilities any stakeholder within a school community must develop and continue to grow in. Experience at times can hinder or regress one’s emotional intelligence with a stubborn or scorned mindset. With a positive outlook and growth mindset, emotional intelligence can progress and transform as one’s experiences occur and time passes on.

Although Mayer and Salovey developed and termed “emotional intelligence”, it has been adapted into many fields, all of which involve some sort of human interactions, development and collaboration. It has been placed at the cornerstone of business leadership skills. In 2009, Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves published Emotional Intelligence 2.0. In this guide, Bradberry and Greaves explain what EQ (the emotional quotient) is and how it involves the ability to understand, use and manage your emotions to improve your relationships with others and improve your overall leadership qualities, lifestyle – personally and professionally. So with all this development around the area of emotional intelligence, why have I not seen this term or push for emotional intelligence / EQ in the field of education? In all three higher educational programs I have been a part of for both personal, teacher and leadership preparation, emotional intelligence was briefly glanced over but definitely not focused on well enough. It was until I came across a now life-long friend and educational coach, Jorge Valenzuela, who recommended I read Bradberry and Greaves’ book to better understand my emotional intelligence to improve my relationship with myself, colleagues, friends, families and community. The emphasis was on understanding and growing myself so that my impact of leadership and service can expand to a larger realm, larger circle and have a much greater impact than I intended it for.

After knowing all of this, what can be done from here? Well, first, get that deficit mindset out of your head! If you maintain a deficit mindset, guess who will follow suit? The real reason why we do what we do, our students – our children. So, let us erase that deficit mindset – get out of a reactive mindset and work towards a proactive mindset. Let’s work on improving our emotional intelligence as seasoned teachers, teacher leaders and school/central leaders. As for those new in any of the previously mentioned roles, let’s work on developing your emotional intelligence with a proactive lens – looking to better understand ourselves and each other for the primary benefit of the development of our students.


Self-Awareness

Self-Regulation

Internal Motivation

Empathy

Social Skills

To obtain this component determine the following:


  • Your values

  • Your triggers

  • Response and reactions to triggers

  • Self – confidence

To obtain this component determine the following:


  • Your triggers and reactions to them

  • Your perception and reaction to change

To obtain this component determine the following:


  • Your motivation

  • Your purpose

  • Your organizational commitment

To obtain this component determine the following:


  • The sources of you emotions

  • Emotional reactions

To obtain this component determine the following:


  • Determining and understanding your emotional intelligence

  • Determining and understanding the emotional intelligence of others

  • The act of integrity

  • Buy-in of team members

What to do? Things to think about or ask:


Take a realistic self-assessment during both positive and negative events personally and professionally. What are your noticings? Wonderings? How do your responses and reactions affect others? Is that what you want? Is that what you meant?

What to do? Things to think about or ask:


How can you be proactive and better manage your emotions? Remember the ripple effect of your reactions and responses to change or triggers on others. How can you alter them for a better outcome for all?

What to do? Things to think about or ask:


What is your reason, your purpose? What pushes you to move forward? Where do you get your strong drive?

What to do? Things to think about or ask:


What are the sources of your emotional reactions? Treat people according to their emotional reactions. Keep in mind to service clients first. Focus your expertise in building and retaining team members.

What to do? Things to think about or ask:


Treat people how they want to be treated, not how you want to be treated (the Platinum Rule). Listen to understand and not react. Always act with integrity – keeping your purpose in mind. Create buy-in when leading and building teams for change. Determine your emotional intelligence before learning to determine others.


Resources to consider:

  • Bradberry, T., Greaves J. (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. TalentSmart.

  • Covey, S. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Simon & Schuster.

  • Lencioni, P. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Wiley.

  • TalentSmartEQ.2021.https://www.talentsmarteq.com/emotional-intelligence-2-0/. Accessed 15 November 2021.


5 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page