UPSC Ethics Notes: Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is one of the favourite areas of UPSC and there are often questions on this topic in the General Studies Paper IV that is Ethics paper. I generally made notes of the keywords and looked up the keywords on Google to clearly understand them. You can do the same. I will reproduce my UPSC Ethics notes below:

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability of a person to identify, understand and manage the emotions of oneself and that of others.

Intrapersonal EI (One’s own Emotions)

• Self Awareness
  • Identification of one’s own emotions
  • Accurate self assessment
  • self-confidence
  • self-regard (knowing strength and weakness of oneself)
• Self management
  • Impulse control
  • Self control
  • Conscientiousness (guided by conscience)
  • Adaptability
  • Goal-orientation
  • Level-headedness

Interpersonal EI (Other’s Emotions)

• Social Awareness
  • Recognizing others’ emotions
  • Emotions of the society at large
  • Organisational awareness
  • Service orientation
  • Empathy for others
• Social Skills
  • Teamwork/ Leadership
  • Conflict management
  • Problem solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • Change catalyst
  • Personnel management
  • Influencing others
  • Developing others and getting the best out of them

Importance of Emotional Intelligence

• Recognizing and managing one’s emotions to stay balanced
• Self-control and adaptability to changing work or social environment
• Correct and honest assessment of one’s own strength and weakness, thus maximize potential
• Managing a teamwork, inter-staff conflict resolution.
• self-motivation
• optimism and empathy helps to connect with others

Advantages 

• Self Actualization (realizing one’s true potential)
• Improved social relationships
• reduces stress levels at home or at work
• Confidence and positive feeling
• gain respect and trust of others
• creativity and problem solving skills

Emotional Intelligence in Administration

• High Self Regard: Capitalize on strength and work on weaknesses
• Manage Change Effectively: Due to flexibility, convincing skills, consensus building and stress management
• Model the way: Assertive and independent, walks the talk, good listener but takes his own judgement
• Remains composed under pressure
• Encourages the Team: Keeps all motivated, avoids intra and inter-group conflicts, rewards in recognition of contributions

I hope this note on Emotional Intelligence helps you write better Ethics answers. Please share this article with others who cannot avail coaching.