WANTED! Teaching with “Emotional Intelligence”

With the rise of technology, the hard skills you are learning today might just become obsolete soon. To succeed, there is something else to focus on, Emotional Intelligence.

In this article, Raj Ganesh, the founder and CEO of Arise ‘n’ Shine shares the importance of emotional intelligence and its necessity in our current education system.

Emotional  Intelligence is all about feelings and emotions – being aware of them, understanding them, having control over them, recognizing them in others and being able to help others sort through them. Research shows a person’s emotional quotient or EQ can be an effective indicator for potential success than their IQ.

A school can be an emotional caldron. Whether you are a teacher or a student, nurturing emotional intelligence is the recipe for success.

We all experience numerous emotions. They help us survive, thrive and avoid danger. They play an important role in how we think and behave. Typical primary emotions include fear, anger, sadness and happiness.

The two emotional states which carry a strong burden are fear and shame. Eight year old Anita, a third grade student, goes to school most of the time with fear; fear of pushy parents, fear of teachers and classmates. When her teacher asks her to explain a concept, she responds in incorrect English. Her classmates make fun of her and her teacher humiliates her for her poor communication. Anita is hurt and feels ashamed and worthless. The class environment failed to demonstrate empathy and motivation for Anita to perform better.

On the other hand a teacher with social-emotional competencies would not quickly resort to anger; she would recognize the student’s emotions and have insight into what’s causing them. Empathy is the antidote to shame. This can promote a caring and supportive relationship between the teacher and the student.

Every child deserves to feel safe, loved and empowered at school. A teacher has the responsibility to create a classroom environment that nurtures the student to be cheerful, appreciates them for being honest, rewards them for being kind, encourages them to make efforts and take risks. As they grow with a strong EQ foundation, they will be able to develop a positive self-esteem, strong social skills, handle problems and pursue their dreams.

Our education system has always focused on academic competence. Students who perform well at school are not able to socialize, think independently and solve problems. Their emotional intelligence was not nurtured at the early age. Unlike our traditional education system, emotional Intelligence helps students to face the tests of life and not a life of tests. To make this transformation happen, we need to nurture and empower teachers with more EQ competence than IQ.

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1 Comment

  1. Our social media has replaced “responsible compassion and respect for others” by suggesting that freedom of speech is more important. What we say and how we speak to others comes not only from the mouth or the typing fingers but instead– from both mind and heart, With any measure of negativity in those word –that is why & how it hurts when others share the message or add to it. Joining peers is so important –standing up for others needs to be learned by guiding adults.

    What we type on a keyboard allows us to separate out that responsible compassion and caring and replaces “the feelings” with mere words.
    The empowerment of word comes from the emotions (or the EQ as you say). Positivity in thought and word creates and brings forth goodness and caring…it is how we survive and how we share hope for a better future. It also lays a pathway to our best communication.
    Teachers can be the instrument to deliver that positive message and revise all others–They will and can improve the classroom environment by doing so & loudly i.e., “another way of saying this” is to instead “objectify the words” . Negativity is subjective and has no place in childhood i.e., gossip and abuse of other has no place in growth. How we grow to promote goodness and hope, and; how do we develop our spirituality needs guidance–Growth is guided by positive thought –it is that training that will save us all. So yes I agree with your article that can help our youth overcome the obstacles we adults have placed in their lives.

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