Teacher and Emotional Intelligence(EI)

  

             

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,