Oman: Thoughts on Emotional Intelligence in our Schools, Teaching and Education Practices

One student might say that the best teacher must be interesting, encouraging, and knowledgeable. Another student expects the teacher to be an expert, too, but also very patient, personable, and/or approachable. Still another student expects a teacher to be "exceptionally considerate" while at the same time that instructor must also be very inspiring. Interestingly, most of these expectations from our students concerning the anticipated instructor are in the arena of emotions--i.e. much more so than in the realm of thinking.

In short, emotional intelligence (EI) is neither a touchy-feely sort of awareness nor skill. Nor is EI only a wise-thinking "appreciation of others emotions". Emotional Intelligence is a sophisticated awareness among a set of thinking skills which enable a learner and an instructor to navigate their world as actors in a variety of fields but usually in a more peaceful, objective but emotionally aware manner. [1] In summary, EI, thus, enables people/students/teachers to navigate cultural and societal changes successfully as well as enabling people to move within other cultures (as well as in their own community in which they grew up).

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE?

(1) Emotional Intelligence is about managing one's own emotions.

(2) Emotional Intelligence is about establishing positive emotions between us and others.

Daniel Goleman originally identified five major components of Emotional Intelligence.

1. Self-awareness -- the ability to know one's emotions, strengths, weaknesses, drives, values and goals and recognize their impact on others while using gut feelings to guide decisions.
2. Self-regulation -- involves controlling or redirecting one's disruptive emotions and impulses and adapting to changing circumstances.
3. Social skill -- managing relationships to move people in the desired direction
4. Empathy -- considering other people's feelings especially when making decisions
5. Motivation -- being driven to achieve for the sake of achievement

Self-Awareness, i.e. in terms of Emotional Intelligence, means first to be aware of the emotions that reside in you. It also means applying some emotional intelligence traits to form some sort of emotional literacy.

What are our own emotional triggers? What are the emotional triggers of the other?

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