The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Teachers

How do you rate your ability to control emotions regardless of issues thrown at you? How quickly are you able to move on after making a mistake? That’s what we are going to talk about in this post – the importance of emotional intelligence in teachers. Do you have it?

rainbow over mountain and lakeThe ability to express and control your own emotions as well as those of the people around you is called Emotional Intelligence (EI).

Other than your own feelings, this skill also helps identify, interpret, and respond to the sentiments of others and how they react in certain situations. If you are gifted or have developed a higher degree of emotional intelligence – it means you know what you’re feeling, its level of intensity, and how it can affect other people.

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The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Teachers

Emotionally intelligent teachers show that they care for their students. They are able to express what they feel, assert saying no when they need to, and are able to solve issues in a way that benefits the entire class.

Creating an impassioned atmosphere in the classroom advances the way students learn. The more that you, as a teacher, manage the scope of emotional intelligence, the higher your capacity to handle different emotions.

Let’s learn the four levels of emotional intelligence:

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1) Self-awareness

Being self-aware means you are conscious of how you feel, and you know how your emotions can bring out actions that might affect the people around you.

For example, you’re in a bad mood and started cold-treating colleagues. This emotional upsurge can hurt the feelings of others without them knowing the exact cause of such coldness.

Managing your emotions helps you identify what exactly is causing you mad, why it’s blowing you up, and what can slow you down. It will recognize personal strengths and weaknesses clearly making it easier to understand your feelings, talk about them, and move past them.

Check, Correct, Tick, Sign, Mark, OrangeTo improve self-awareness, slow down any time you experience anger or other strong emotions. Examine why. Remember, you can choose to avoid or resolve conflicts and build better relationships. 

Our post on Effective Ways to Manage Daily Stress will give you stress management techniques.

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2) Self-regulation

Self-regulating helps identify what values matter most to you and control the urge of making rushed emotional decisions like attacking or blaming others. Since you know what’s important, you won’t have to think twice because you’ll make the right choice at once.

For example, you might have the habit of finding the blame in others when something goes wrong. Such condemning practice can be controlled by admitting the mistake. Regulating the mind collects your thoughts, brings you back to the standards of good behavior, and strengthens your position.

A good leader learns from mistakes and being able to manage personal behavior keeps emotions in check. The willpower to stay in control helps resist impulsive actions that might worsen a situation.

Check, Correct, Tick, Sign, Mark, OrangeTo improve self-regulation, be very aware of how you act in challenging situations. Know your values, hold yourself accountable, and practice calmness. If you tend to flare up when under stress, deep breathe, get calm, and go back to your senses.

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3) Empathy

Leaders believe that having empathy connects people. They can be in someone else’s situation and be able to feel what the other person is experiencing, challenge those who don’t work fairly, give feedback, listen, and provide help to those who need it.

For example, comforting a disheartened student after his parents got divorced somehow connects you to the child. You are moved that you want to do everything to make him feel better, at least. When the student feels that you care, The built trust will persuade him to talk openly with you.

Empathy is the ability to communicate and lead by understanding other people’s thoughts and feelings. Even without words, facial expressions and caring gestures can send a message that expands upon which you and others can relate to each other.

Check, Correct, Tick, Sign, Mark, OrangeWhen empathy is improved, it leads to more meaningful relationships, work success, and better quality of life. Learn to be curious about how others feel and develop compassion. Even if you don’t know them, it helps you discover the value of life and how much you can care.

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4) Self-Motivation

Self-motivated leaders are personally driven toward extremely high standard quality of their work. On your part as a teacher, self-motivation gives you the vision that makes you more positive. You’ll find the strength to overcome hesitation and negative influences.

For example, being a teacher gives you the initiative to act and take charge. But becoming a leader motivates you more to move forward before others do. The eagerness to succeed is what drives you to get things done on time. This gives you the ability to keep going in spite of difficulties. Resilience!

One element that makes you happy is the desire to achieve your dreams. This is where family, relationships, and work come in as social and psychological motivators.

Check, Correct, Tick, Sign, Mark, OrangeTo improve self-motivation, re-examine yourself if you really love what you’re doing, know where you stand, and adopt a hopeful mindset. Every time you face a challenge or a failure, quickly look for the good thing about the situation and let that something positive lead you.

Watch the Psychology of Self-Motivation video by Scott Geller / TEDxVirginiaTech

Feel empowered right away!

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To Sum It Up

Based on the factors above, we can conclude that Emotional Intelligence in teachers is what will help them to be the best version of themselves and the best leader they can be. This makes those who have such intelligence likely to succeed because of the ability to stay in control of whatever emotion in a situation.

Now ask yourself – can you be among the leaders who believe can face problems positively? If your answer is yes, wow, you’re an optimistic person. If your answer is not yet or how I wish… then are you ready to practice emotional intelligence? Can you do it?

What about you? What are your thoughts? Can you share them with us in the comments?