Personal Perspectives

Personal Perspectives Paper

According to Mayer and Associates (2007), “Emotional intelligence (EI) improves an individual’s social effectiveness” (¶ 1). Therefore, an individual with a higher degree of EI can problem-solve more efficiently which leads to greater productivity and happiness at work, home, or play. The goal of taking this course is to increase my EI. The purpose of this paper is to describe what I hope to gain from this course and how I believe I can use this course content in my daily life.

What I Hope to Gain

I work in a world surrounded by individuals with extremely high Intelligence Quotient (IQ). However, as Goleman (2005) discuses IQ contributes to approximately 20% to the factors that determine success in life. This 20% leaves 80% of the factors to other forces. Therefore, the majority of success in life is not determined by an individual’s IQ. If one looks at these other forces, we may soon realize that emotional intelligence (EI) is at the heart of this 80% (Goldman, 2005). Unfortunately, numerous individuals in the healthcare industry enter the field due to high IQ and miserably lack EI.

By increasing my EI, I hope to improve communication skills by enhancing my ability to perceive an individual’s emotions. This honed skill will enable me to understand the emotions of myself and others. According to Mayer and Associates (2007), an individual with higher EI will relate well to others; is less likely to engage in bad behavior; and is more likely to steer clear of self-destructive behaviors.

Use in Daily Life

By enriching my EI, I will be more self-aware. “This above all: to thine own self be true” (Bartlett, 1919, p. 1517). According to Goleman (2005), “Self-awareness