Lesson 3. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Communication is more than exchanging information, it is about understanding the emotion and intentions behind the information. Since EQ is the ability to feel, understand, articulate and effectively apply the power of emotions, it serves as a strength for mentors in a world of different cultural norms and behaviours.
Being very different from Intellectual Intelligence (IQ), Emotional Intelligence develops through:
- Self-awareness
- Realizing and embracing the diversity of human experience and motivation
- The ability to communicate with people while accepting interpersonal and intercultural differences
To bring Emotional Intelligence to the mentoring relationship, firstly, EQ must be understood. EQ can be defined along two orthogonal axes:
| SELF | OTHERS | |
| INSIGHT
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Affirmative Introspection | Intercultural Literacy |
| ACTION
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Self-Governance | Social Interacting |
As a mentor, developing the above aspects of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) will empower your skills in a mentoring relationship. See below to observe which, and how, these aspects benefit your mentoring skills.
| Affirmative Introspection (Insight into self) | • Knowing your strengths and weaknesses – personal and academic awareness
• Being conscious of what situations and behaviours frustrate and annoy you • Having confidence in your knowledge and abilities
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| Intercultural/Interpersonal Literacy (Insight into Others)
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• Putting yourself in your mentee’s shoes
• Kowing your mentee’s strengths and weaknesses • Being conscious of understanding your mentee’s cultural background
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| Self-Governance ( Action on the Self)
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• Overcoming negative, self-defeating, internal dialogues about mentor-mentee relationship
• Learning to accept change, making the most of problems and managing anger in reaction to frustrations • Learning to be comfortable with having mixed feelings about your mentee and dealing with complex situations
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| Social Architecting (Action with others)
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• Recognizing and interpreting problems occuring due to differences of personality and/or cultural background
• Learning how to resolve conflicts occuring due to personal and cultural differences • Creating a relationship with your mentee that both of you find satisfying, productive and inspiring
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