Conventional belief maintains that there is a direct connection between one’s IQ and their ability to be successful in life. As a result, many parents and schools give importance to the academic growth of their students. However, research has shown that this is not the only thing that will take a student far, and in fact, IQ only accounts for about 20% of success.
The deeming factor in one’s success is actually their EQ Emotional Quotient, or more simply put their emotional intelligence.
The ability of an individual to understand own emotion
Here what we are talking about is the ability of an individual to understand his own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It is important for educational institutions in 2020 to factor emotional development, growth and intelligence into their curriculum and provide it to their students from a very young age.
The workforce today constitutes of many different types of people that interact with on a daily basis. We need to prepare students on how to collaborate and navigate different personalities that they may come across.
Students should be equipped with the emotional quotient, empathy, and understanding to help navigate themselves through these different situations.
5 major components of emotional intelligence:
Recognition: The ability of the child to recognise emotion in themselves or in another student.
Understanding: Understanding the causes and consequences of these emotions
Labelling: being able to label his/her emotions accurately
Expressing: Know how he/she should convey the emotions they are going through, this is also essential as they should be allowed to express their emotions in a space where they feel safe.
Regulation: Having processed why he/she is feeling the emotions he is, what are the causes, and what is the appropriate way to express it, the child can make a decision how to react, or not react to it.
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A student feeling anger or frustration, given the correct social and emotional tools in school will know how to correctly and constructively express their anger using words or know how to diffuse their own anger rather than react by throwing something at the wall.
Emotional development helps students with navigating their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others, they and can empathize or sympathize with another person.
As they get older the EQ allows students to better cope with and manage stresses and anxieties that they face, and also helps them navigate complex situations they might find themselves in.
It gives students an agency and a sense of self-confidence, thus will not be easily held back by minor setbacks. As students enter the workforce, they will find themselves entering more complex worlds and relationships that they will have to learn to navigate through.
Balancing of EQ and IQ
With a good balance of EQ and IQ, not only will students be armed with specific skills and knowledge set required to be successful but they will also be able to communicate, navigate, and address problems more effectively.
A strong foundation in socio-emotional development is therefore essential for students as it makes them more effective in the workforce and better and empathetic people.
Courtesy: India Today
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