Emotional Intelligence and Its Important Components June, 2014 | Page 2

The Essential Components of Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence has managed to grab the attention of health practitioners and
researchers since its inception. The first formal definition of emotional intelligence (EI) was
introduced in the year 1990 and since then a number of models have been proposed, each of
which relates to different factors and attributes. Some of the most common attributes of
emotional intelligence are enlisted below:
Adaptability
The key to emotional intelligence lies in adaptability. The term refers to the concept of
embracing new ideas to make room for creative thinking in the human mind. For business
leaders, adaptability refers to the idea of facilitating change in staff, environment and
organizational culture. Adaptable leaders are able to induce positive changes for the greater
benefit of the organization.
Assertiveness
Unlike conventional leadership concepts, assertiveness in EI refers to showing respect for
oneself and for others. A person with high EI will be able to stand up for legitimate rights,
encourage positive and honest communication and be more open. The most important element of
assertive communication is to make room for newer innovations without allowing oneself to be
railroaded.
Emotional Expression
For leaders with high EI, emotional expression and self awareness go hand in hand. The
more conscious an individual is; the greater will be his/her control over emotional expression.
Individual expressions may be a mixture of verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Leaders find it far
easier to communicate with their subordinates if they are able to successfully regulate their
emotions.
Emotional Management of Oneself and Of Others
While emotional awareness allows an individual to become more “self-aware”; emotional
management helps in managing and regulating these emotions. For leaders, these two skills play
a very critical role as they help make cognizant and knowledgeable decisions.
Relationship Building
Building relationship skills is an important part of EI. For business leaders, relationship
skills such as team building, conflict management and sociability are very important in order to
motivate people in the desired direction. Relationship building and management is one of the
most visible personality traits of leaders who are able to approach relations from an authentic
viewpoint.
Self Esteem
A proven correlation between self esteem and happiness has been established in the past
few years. Individuals with higher emotional intelligence have higher self esteems and are able

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