Learning Life Skills of Emotional and Social Intelligence Competencies

Emotional and social intelligence competencies distinguish effective performance among managers, leaders, and professionals. People in power (i.e., leading and helping) roles infect others with their emotional state through the contagion of emotion. The consequences of using emotional and social intelligence competencies are amplified in work and social settings through the quality of people’s relationships. Although most attempts to develop these competencies at work and in graduate education fail, there is longitudinal evidence that they can be developed sustainably. Intentional change theory explains the physiological and psychological process that results in significant improvement in these competencies. The three most distinctive aspects of this model, in contrast to typical approaches, are (a) fostering the person’s ideal self, vision, and dream before exposing them to any data feedback; (b) using coaches to create relationships that help the person through the process; and (c) developing social identity groups that create peer coaching relationships and sustain the developments.