Generally in many organizations Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ) or Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is spoken about in the context of having soft skills. It is deemed as having the ability to build trust, establish relationships and maintain them. More formally, being able to communicate effectively is often measured in how well one does verbally or in written form. Communication is an aspect of Emotional Intelligence though it requirements much more than these measures to sustain strong relationships.

Emotional Intelligence is a set of skills and competencies that predict positive outcomes in social interactions. The focus is on both the management of your own social behavior and that of others around you. Many of the tests that measure Emotional Intelligence is based on the model of John Mayer and Peter Salovey. Mayer and Salovey have defined emotional intelligence as an ability to recognize the meanings of emotion and their relationships, and to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them. The models for Emotional Intelligence have evolved to include various flavors and have started to elicit criticism on the validity of some tests. Companies such as TalentSmart, who provide testing and consulting services on Emotional Intelligence, believe that these skills are linked to performance and can be developed. Regardless of the current state of affairs, I believe these skills are developed very early on in life and are foundational values that parents should teach their children. They are the basic principles of the Bible and how to live a God fearing life. 

With this in mind, many leaders fail miserably at having high emotional intelligence. What is worse, it is tolerated by subordinates and peers as a personality trait that just isn't inherent in them. Emotional Intelligence is not just a requirement for effective leadership in companies, but the foundation for success in relationships in your personal life and in the communities in which we live. Here are the five cases when Emotional Intelligence resonate most for me.