As an experienced teacher, I've come to realize
that our emotions, behavior, actions, and reactions can greatly influence
individuals, generations, and society as a whole. I've also learned that our
success in teaching is closely linked to our emotional intelligence.
So, what exactly is emotional intelligence?
According to Mental Health America (MHA), emotional intelligence (EI) is the
ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around
you.
I particularly like how Travis Bradberry and
Jean Greaves see emotional intelligence
“Emotional
intelligence is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible .It
affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal
decisions that achieve positive results”
Research has shown that individuals with strong
emotional intelligence don't make impulsive decisions; instead, they think
critically and objectively before acting. This approach helps them avoid
harming themselves and those around them. They also strive to understand their
strengths, weaknesses, and their impact on the environment.
Emotional intelligence is crucial in our
personal, social, and professional lives to prevent negative effects on
learning and learners. Teachers serve as leaders and role models, and as such,
they must act in ways that support the smooth flow of teaching and learning.
Qualities like hard work, honesty, discipline,
and punctuality are all important, but emotional intelligence is particularly
crucial. It's vital to consider the long-term impact of your actions,
reactions, and responses in the teaching and learning environment, especially
towards your students. How do you handle learners with questionable character,
poor handwriting, low-ability learners, , abused learners, and learners dealing
with life issues such as sickness? Do
your learners fear you?. Consider how people feel after interacting with you –
do they feel hurt, intimidated, or empowered? These questions call for a moment
of reflection. Also, how do you respond to line managers with their impulsive decisions? How
do you handle unpleasant situations at home, in your relationships, and in the
workplace? Do you transfer aggression and let unpleasant situations tear down
the walls? These questions call for a moment of reflection.
A
parent once told me about a teacher who constantly encouraged her children
despite facing family challenges. This teacher was homeless at the time due to
an issue, but she never let it affect her excellent delivery during home
lessons. She was always punctual, diligent with her work, composed, and never
asked for anything from the family, even though they were wealthy with
mansions. The parent also shared that the youngest son loved this teacher
because of her exemplary behaviour. In conclusion, the teacher's actions
demonstrated high emotional intelligence.
"Sometimes, when I observe the situations
in the classroom, the actions of learners, and their responses sometimes, I
realize that my reactions are not accidental. The sense of peace I experience
amidst the challenges with some learners is a result of my emotional
intelligence. Teachers should understand the impact of emotional intelligence
as it affects every aspect of their being.
Dealing
with learners requires a high level of emotional intelligence because teachers
need to be self-aware of their emotions, strengths, and weaknesses, and manage
them to authentically lead their learners. Our emotional intelligence is
inherent and is reflected in our decisions, actions, reactions, and responses.
It's important to develop and nurture your emotional
intelligence for your benefit and the broader society because a single
decision, action, reaction, or response can either improve or harm a society,
not just yourself. As an example, King Rehoboam lost 10 tribes for two as a
result of one single decision, action, and response. Be cautious and elevate
the standard of your emotional intelligence, for the present and the
future."
Five Key elements of Emotinal intelligence
In the book "Why You Act the Way You
Do," Tim LaHaye discusses the importance of self-awareness in
understanding our strengths, weaknesses, and emotions. He emphasizes that our
temperaments have a significant influence on everything we do. Self-awareness
allows us to better understand how our actions and emotions impact others.
Self-regulation is also crucial as it helps us
manage our emotions in a healthy and composed manner, without causing friction.
It enables us to express our feelings appropriately, handle conflicts and
difficult situations, and adapt to change effectively.
Empathy is a crucial element of emotional
intelligence. With empathy, we can understand and share other people's feelings
and see things from their perspective. It is all about understanding the
emotional state of others and responding appropriately. Empathy rejects
selfishness and embraces selflessness and service.
Motivation is also crucial in emotional
intelligence. Emotionally intelligent people are motivated not by material
things such as money or recognition, but by intrinsic values. They are committed,
action-oriented, and always striving to do better, often working in obscurity
but their good work will eventually be recognized.
Social skills are also an important aspect of
emotional intelligence. It involves not only understanding your own emotions
but also understanding and connecting with others. Effective communication and
interaction with others are essential for team spirit and collaboration to
thrive, both in personal and professional environments. Cultivating purposeful
relationships and connections is essential for greater achievements.
Building strong emotional intelligence can
profoundly affect the personal and professional life of a teacher. Strong
emotional intelligence promotes self-awareness, helping teachers discover their
identity in Christ. With this intelligence, teachers can value and lead
themselves in a way that allows them to live meaningfully outside of their
profession.
Strong emotional intelligence also enhances a
teacher's influence on learners. Teachers with strong emotional intelligence
tend to lead well because they model leadership in their decisions, actions,
and reactions. They understand their own emotions as well as those of their
learners and can act appropriately.
Moreover, strong emotional intelligence promotes
a purposeful teacher-learner relationship. A positive teacher-learner
relationship creates an enabling atmosphere for effective learning. This is
because the teacher understands the uniqueness and diversities of learners and
respects them using the power of inclusion, empathy, and humility.
Additionally, stress management is a significant
benefit of strong emotional intelligence for teachers. It allow teachers to manage their own emotions and those of
their learners, enabling them to exert control over situations and act
appropriately.
Furthermore, strong emotional intelligence
enables a teacher to act objectively, avoiding impulsive decisions that can
disrupt the flow of learning.
As part of your personal and professional
growth, I highly recommend building your emotional intelligence because it is
the totality of being. It reveals who you are by informing your decisions,
actions, and reactions. Here are some tips to help you work on your emotional
intelligence:
·
Discover your identity
in Christ.
·
Discover your purpose and live meaningfully.
·
Discover your temperaments (strengths and weaknesses).
·
View situations objectively – know when to make decisions, when
and how to act and respond to issues.
·
Know when to say yes and when to say no politely.
·
Communicate well and watch your tone and expressions (verbal and
non-verbal).
·
Stay around people who are ahead of you professionally.
·
Stay around people with integrity.
·
Stay around positive people.
·
Increase your success by not journeying alone.
·
Get a mentor, counsellor, or coach if you need to.
·
Above all,