There is much written today about the importance of emotional intelligence and how mastering your emotions can improve your life. But the concept of emotional intelligence is not new.

“Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy.” Aristotle

Daniel Goleman’s 1995 book ‘Emotional Intelligence’ explains that our brains are hard-wired to give emotions the upper hand. The limbic system (the emotional brain) reacts to events first, before we have the opportunity to engage the rational brain (the pre-frontal cortex). The communication between these two areas of the brain is the very definition of emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence gives you a new type of relationship with your emotions, one where you manage them instead of them managing you.

Emotional Intelligence helps people understand the role their emotions play in their thinking, behaviour, decision-making and ultimately, their relationships. The essence of effective leadership is the capacity to understand people and then translate this into a series of goals and activities to secure your organisation.