Surviving and Thriving: Understanding and Developing Your Emotional Intelligence

ABSTRACT The National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education’s (NAHKE) efforts to connect professionals to share our strategies and passions for success within kinesiology are more valuable than ever beforel and developing emotionally intelligent leaders and administrators is very important. For the 30th Delphine Hanna Commemorative Lecture, the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) is explored. EI can be understood most simply as one’s ability to recognize the emotions of themselves and others to help motivate themselves or others, which lends the ability to manage emotions and relationships. Within this lecture, definitions, components, and competencies are presented in an attempt to bolster our human development and our performance in the kinesiology higher education profession. Compared to our intellectual capacities, which are somewhat inherent and difficult to improve upon, EI can be regarded as a set of skills that continue to develop with practice. Thus, an analysis of various practices that may help individuals improve EI abilities is also presented.