NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCECOMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE

Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the Military CurriculumMilitary Curriculum

ByByMs Lily WiskerMs Lily Wisker

• Concept of EI

• EI and Leadership Performance

• EI and Military Leadership

• Myth of EI

• EI in Military Curriculum

• Conclusion

• Questions

Scope

Emotional Intelligence (EI) Theory

• Theory of EI –by Harvard Psychologist, Howard Gardner, 1983

• Based on “Social Intelligence Concept” by Thordike, 1920

• Developed from neuro-psychology and neuro-science - focuses on connection and circuitry in the brain that regulates emotions

Concepts of Emotional Intelligence (EI)

• Bar- On (1997)– An array of non-cognitive skills – Intrapersonal, interpersonal, adaptation, stress

management, general mood

• Goleman (1995; 1998)– Competencies that develop through learning and increased

with age and linked with maturity– Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness,

social skills

• Mayer, Caruso & Salovey (1997; 2000; 2002) – A set of abilities– Perception, emotional facilitation, understanding and

analysing emotion, regulation and management of emotion

EI and Leadership Effectiveness

• Positive association with managerial performance (Cote & Miners, 2007; Dulewicz, Young & Dulewicz, 2005; Semadar et al., 2006)

• Better predictor of success than general intelligence, IQ (Goleman, 998; Pellitteri, 2002)

• Ability to exercise self-control ( Barling, et al., 2000)

• Encourage creative and innovative thinking (Isen, et al., 1987)

• Ability to inspire and motivate morale of subordinates (George, 2000)

EI and Military Leadership

• EI too “soft, civilian and wimpy image” – mistaken perception (Abrahams, 2007)

• “Leadership is about INFLUENCING” people (FM22-100, 1999, p. 4-6)

• Success of operations depends more on morale of people than on material advantages (NZDDP –D, 2004, p. 6-12)

• Conceptual link between EI and transformational leadership – military context (Livingstone, et al., 2002)

Myth of EI

• Elusive and vague concept (Davies, et al., 1998)

• More myth than science (Matthew, 2002)

• Concepts and measures are not coherent– Bar –On, 1997– Goleman, 1995; 1998– Mayer, Caruso & Salovey, 1997; 2000; 2002

• Association of EI and leadership effectiveness not consistent

EI in Military Curriculum

• EI Constructs– Has roots in social intelligence– Intrapersonal and interpersonal domains– Not personality traits– Develop with age

• EI does not work in isolation– Feed both EI and Cognitive Skills into curriculum

• What level of leadership needs EI?

• Developing EI– Short seminars and workshops– Intensive coaching– Relevant feedback– Personal development

Conclusion

Emotional Intelligence and Military Curriculum

An idea whose time has come

However

Be Cautious

Questions?

Know the Other and Know Yourself:

One Hundred Challenges without Danger;

Know Not the Other and Yet Know Yourself:

One Triumph for One Defeat;

Know Not the Other and Know Not Yourself:

Every Challenge is Certain a Peril;

Sun Tzu, Art of War