Exploring Emotional Intelligence & its relationship with Conflict management among employees in Engineering Industries

By G Sathesh Kumar Research Scholor, Karpagam University Supervised by Dr.S.Prabhakar, Director-School of Management Studies Karpagam College of Engineering

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Factors that are related to success in life Helps us understand why some people do well in life while others fail Distinct from IQ (Cognitive Intelligence)

What is Conflict Management?

Conflict management involves implementing strategies to limit the negative aspects of conflict and to increase the positive aspects of conflict at a level equal to or higher than where the conflict is taking place.

Where Did the Concept of Emotional Intelligence Come From?

1936 (Robert Thorndyke) - social intelligence 1940 (David Wechsler) - non intellective intelligence 1980 (Reuven Bar-On) - the concept of EQ 1983 (Howard Gardner) - personal intelligence 1989 (John Mayer & Peter Salovey) - Emotional Intelligence 1995 (Daniel Goleman) -popularized Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence in Resolving Conflict

Emotional Intelligence combines emotion with intelligence. lack of emotional intelligence is one of the leading cause of conflict , as the root of all conflict is a lack of sensitivity People in conflict are usually locked into a self perpetuating emotional spiral. Usually the declared subject of conflict is NOT the key issue. Need to learn how to use the skills previously discussed to resolve conflict. Since the study of emotional intelligence and conflict management involved the field of Psychology and organizational Behavior it provide dual perspective

Research Issues and Contributions

Thomas(1976) identifies five types of conflict management strategies : Avoiding , Dominating , Obliging , Compromising and integrating. Mayer and Salovery (1995),The awareness of emotional change and the ability to affect or control emotions in critical or stressful situations is a significant aspect of our business environments and of society as a whole Hoban(2005) Conflict arises between people or groups , due to their differences in attitudes , beliefs, Values or needs. Srinivasan and george (2005) Emotionally intelligent students seems to be capable of applying the different style of conflict management styles as the situation demands.

Anjupuri (2010) lack of emotional intelligence is one of the leading cause of conflict , as the root of all conflict is a lack of sensitivity on the part of one or both parties and sensitivity is directly related to ones emotional intelligence. Ayoko,Callan and Hartel(2008) Training in skills related to empathy, emotion management, and conflict management norms assist team leaders and members in minimizing conflict. Godse and Thingujam (2010) Emotional Intelligence is significantly correlated with the integrating style of conflict resolution.