Defining emotional intelligence according to daniel goleman

Goleman's first definition

Daniel Goleman, a key figure in popularizing this concept, offered an initial definition that laid the foundations for his model.

He described it as the ability to recognize our own feelings and those of others, to motivate ourselves, and to appropriately manage social relationships.

This initial formulation already contained the fundamental pillars: self-awareness (recognizing our own), empathy (recognizing others'), self-motivation, and social skills.

Goleman's second definition: managing emotionality

Over time, Goleman refined his concept, providing a second definition with important nuances.

In this new version, he described emotional intelligence as the ability to recognize our own feelings and those of others in order to motivate ourselves and, crucially, to ''manage emotionality'' in ourselves and in our interpersonal relationships.

This addition is the key to the evolution of his thinking.

Comparative analysis of both definitions

The main difference between both definitions lies in the change from the verb ''to manage'' to the verb ''to manage''.

''To manage'' suggests dealing with something already existing, while ''to manage'' implies a much more proactive, conscious, and planned role.

Furthermore, the focus shifts from ''managing relationships'' (the external) to ''managing emotionality'' (the internal cause), which demonstrates a deeper understanding of the process: if we manage emotions well, we will manage the relationship well.

The central concept: ability to recognize and manage one's own and others'

Despite their nuances, both of Goleman's definitions converge on a fundamental core that can be summarized in two large dimensions.

The first is the intrapersonal dimension, which is our ability to look within, recognize, and manage our own emotions.

It is the basis of self-knowledge and self-control.

The second is the interpersonal dimension, the ability to look outward to understand and effectively manage emotions in our interactions with others, based on empathy and social skills.

Summary

Goleman defined emotional intelligence as the ability to recognize one's own and others' feelings, motivate oneself, and manage relationships, highlighting pillars such as self-awareness, empathy, and social skills.

Later, Goleman refined his idea, prioritizing the management of emotionality.This shift introduced a deeper, more proactive approach to emotional management, both personally and interpersonally.

Both definitions agree on the ability to recognize and manage internal and external emotions. This duality, intrapersonal and interpersonal, constitutes the essential basis of emotional intelligence.