Q: What qualities make a good leader? A: Besides emotional intelligence, every leader requires a certain high level of cognitive intelligence and technical skill. The specifics vary with the particular organization and position, but in general high-level executives need an IQ of around 110 or so to handle the cognitive complexity of their jobs. Beyond… Read more »

Q: Is EI also crucial to a student’s success in the classroom? And if so, why? A: EI is crucial for all life success, including for students in the classroom, because of the basic design of the brain.  Our emotions evolved as a tool for survival, and today emotions have a privileged position in the… Read more »

Q: What is your 2000 model of leadership all about? A: My model of leadership has evolved over several years – there is no “Goleman 2000” model, but rather an evolution of my thought. The best source my thinking on leadership is my recent book Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence. There you can read… Read more »

Q: At what age can students begin to learn skills that can help them improve their EI? A: Children begin to learn these skills from the moment of their first interaction with another human being. The mirror neuron system, which mimics in our own brain what we observe in another person’s movements, emotions and intentions,… Read more »

Q: You explain that emotional intelligence has four parts: self-awareness, managing emotions, empathy and social skills. Is it possible to enhance them, with practice or training? A: Emotional intelligence competencies are learned – and can be improved at any point in life. But first you have to be motivated – ask yourself if you really… Read more »

Q: Is it possible to boost students’ EI through teaching them skills in social and emotional learning, and if so, how are schools today doing this? Or how should they be doing this? A: Yes, definitely. It’s called “social-emotional learning (SEL),” and teaches the gamut of EI skills.  The lessons are, for example, simulations of… Read more »

Q: Why are highly emotionally intelligent individuals are effective leaders ? A: No matter what a leader’s strategy or vision may be, it can only be achieved through the combined efforts of everyone involved–never by the leader alone. The leader needs to communicate, inspire, listen, dialogue, motivate. And all those require emotional intelligence.

Q: What would be the one thing you would suggest so one could be aware on the spot that her emotions are activated against her will and pulling her into a direction that is not aligned with her goals? A: Mindfulness. This attentional training enhances what cognitive scientists call meta-awareness, the ability to monitor your… Read more »

Q: Does emotional intelligence cause stress? I am a student and practitioner of EI and also your admirer for your extensive work on this comprehensive behavioral system. However, I have experienced stress occasionally for not being able to speak my mind candidly in order to be emotionally intelligent in dealing with others. A: Emotional intelligence… Read more »

Q:   I work with my wife. I am a psychologist, financial analyst and family business consultant. She is a financial planner. I have been struck by the need for emotional intelligence regarding money and finance, but have not seen any writings specifically directed at that area. Any resources or ideas that you would recommend… Read more »