by Laura Belsten, PhD, MCC
Chances
are you’re familiar with emotional intelligence. It burst on the
international scene in the 1995 with the publication of Daniel
Goleman’s bestselling book (Emotional Intelligence), and has become the fastest-growing area of life and executive coaching today.
Coaches who offer emotional intelligence coaching:
- distinguish themselves from other coaches;
- help their
clients accelerate their success and achieve bigger goals;
- gain a reputation for outstanding coaching and exceptional results;
- expand their coaching practices significantly;
- reap substantially higher financial benefits by offering more comprehensive, higher-level services.
As coaches, we see again and again that it’s not how book smart our clients are that makes the difference; it’s how people smart they are.
Emotional
intelligence is about becoming aware of our own emotions, in the
moment, and the emotions of others, and using that information to
manage ourselves and our relationships with others. Emotional
intelligence coaching offers a comprehensive set of coaching skills and
tools that provide a natural extension to life, executive and corporate
coaching.
While cognitive intelligence (measured as IQ) is set at birth, research shows that emotional intelligence (measured as EQ) can be learned. What’s more, the research shows the best way to enhance emotional intelligence is to work with a coach.
Coaching
tools are now available to support coaches in coaching emotional
intelligence. Furthermore, EI can be measured, making it possible
for coaches to help their clients identify their strengths and vulnerabilities,
and pull together a comprehensive coaching program and development
plan that will lead to accelerated client success in life and work.
I
strongly encourage you to incorporate emotional intelligence coaching
into your practice. You will be impressed with the positive results it
produces for your clients (and for yourself!).
Dr.
Laura Belsten
is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and a national leader in the field
of Emotional Intelligence. She is certified in three national EI
assessment instruments and author of The
Sage and Scholar's Guide to Coaching Emotional Intelligence.
