Applied Emotional Intelligence: The Importance of Attitudes in Developing Emotional Intelligence

A decade on from its birth, emotional intelligence is attracting more attention than ever before. Why? Because of its proven connection to performance. Tomorrow's leaders will have to be facilitators who work collaboratively to help others develop their potential, and this will require emotionally intelligent skills and attitudes. Against this landscape, Applied EI provides the tools and advice needed to develop and manage a relationship with yourself and create positive relationships with others - the twin cornerstones of emotional intelligence.

We're all capable of acting with emotional intelligence. Most of us don't, because internal interferences - misguided beliefs and attitudes learnt in childhood - get in the way. Countering this, Applied EI attaches unique importance to the role of attitudes in developing and applying emotional intelligence. Tim Sparrow and Amanda Knight stress that EI isn't a synonym for personality; it's about managing personality. That's why knowing how to put EI into practice is essential. And that's why reducing EI to a single number or score misses the point, and serves only to give us another measure by which to judge ourselves and others.

Anyone interested in performance improvement today needs to be interested in emotional intelligence. Applied EI shows how our attitudes underpin our EI, explores how to develop emotionally intelligence attitudes, and lays out tactics for applying them in practice. It discusses what is needed at individual, team and leadership development levels, and considers what it means to be an EI practitioner. Its practical approach and unique perspective make it a must-read for anyone involved in the field of personal development.

Tim Sparrow has had a varied career. He has three master’s degrees (social anthropology, social psychology and industrial relations) and has worked in central and local government, in industry and commerce, as a management consultant, and also as a counsellor, psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. He has devoted the last ten years to developing the theory of emotional intelligence and exploring actively how these insights can most profitably and effectively be applied by individuals and by organisations. Hence his founding of the Centre for Applied Emotional Intelligence, and the development of the unique action learning programme for its Certificate in Emotional Intelligence practitionership. Developing Applied EI satisfies his twin passions: finding out the truth, and changing the world for the better.

 

Amanda Knight is Research and Development Director for the Centre for Applied Emotional Intelligence, a role tasked with keeping the Centre at the leading edge of emotional intelligence practice. She is also course director of the Centre’s unique, in-depth EI practitioner programme. As an EI facilitator and coach, she is passionate about human potential and authentic leadership. ‘Living the values’ and ‘being the change’ are easy to say, but not easy to do, and healthy, emotionally intelligent attitudes towards oneself as well as towards others are intrinsic to authenticity and stress-free living. Focused on the ‘how to’, Amanda has pioneered an approach to development training combining AppliedEI™ with experiential learning, and a guided AppliedEI™ development programme for individuals.