Is it Possible to Teach New or Different Emotions?

Most CLOs have mastered the tangible aspects of their work: managing cost, making critical decisions on what needs to be taught (as well as when and to whom) and how to deliver learning so that it is retained and practiced to the best advantage on the job.

But the intangibles — things such as soft skills and emotional intelligence — remain a bit more difficult to handle.

Emotions, or a lack of emotional control, often make the day’s news as company leaders are called out not just for misbehaving but for the business impact of their angry or questionable reactions and behaviors. Emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize and positively manage your emotions, as well as those of others and in groups) can help. There is some speculation on its effectiveness, though — is such a concept really teachable?

Yes, says Jackie Green, American Management Association portfolio manager.

“Emotional intelligence is a flexible skill that can be learned,” Green said. “It’s not like IQ, which we’re born with and once you get to be a certain age, you can’t do anything to develop. Emotional intelligence, you can learn and develop. If we recognize or acknowledge the importance of building relationships, getting along with people and using that to be productive in the workplace, developing emotional intelligence can be the key to being successful.”

Green said emotional intelligence expert Daniel Goleman estimated emotional intelligence can account for 85 percent or more of effective leaders and individual contributors’ success.

Thus, the more one absorbs the skills of emotional intelligence (e.g., self-awareness or understanding your own emotions, what drives you, gets you excited or incites passion), the better you are able to choose more-effective behaviors.

Often taught using theory and case studies in an instructor-led classroom setting, the development of emotional intelligence might require practicing self-skills via role-play and reflection exercises.

Using theory as a foundation to aid learning is equally important, however — Green said theory-based discussions on how best to channel your emotions to motivate and inspire yourself, take initiative, accept challenges and remain optimistic all begin with self-assessment.