Is Emotional Intelligence the Key to Success?

Author Daniel Goleman seems to think so. Goleman argues that emotional not intellectual intelligence is more important in determining the success of an individual. Emotional intelligence consists of building relationships, self-awareness, life lessons, adapting to change and other soft skills. These soft skills Goleman, argues have hard consequences, mainly leading to the success of the individual. When people are asked to state what qualities or abilities successful leaders have, they majority of the skills are under emotional intelligence. This means that indeed the most successful people are those with a higher emotional intelligence rather than intellectual intelligence.

In his lecture Goleman discusses the importance of the connection between the amygdala and the pre-frontal cortex (executive center) of the brain in emotional intelligence. The PFC is in charge of regulating, evaluating, and calming amygdala impulses so as to stop an individual from doing something rash. This also serves to trigger the moods and emotions in an individual, and thus is a important component to self awareness. This connection is important to maintaining any level of emotional intelligence, as Goleman proves with his example of the lawyer whose connection between the PFC and amygdala was cut. The lawyer who had a very high IQ was incapable of keeping a job or maintaining any personal relationships. This was because the connection between the the PFC and Amygdala had been lost and with it the lawyer's emotional intelligence. This proves that IQ alone is not a key for success.

Goleman also comments on the fact that successful people are individuals who are able to discern others emotions and connect with them. Goleman stresses that a social connection with others is a key component to success and emotional intelligence. Goleman gives the example of a debate between a monk and a professor prone to argument. In the beginning of debate the professor was very quick to become upset, while the monk was entirely calm. By the end of the debate the monk's calmness had influenced the emotions of the professor who by the end of the debate had calmed down as well.

Emotional intelligence is something that develops and grows as individuals grow and gain wisdom, it is woven into the very basics of the human species. Goleman proves that emotional intelligence definitely plays a key role in the success of a person.