To succeed in life, social and emotional acumen are just as important as IQ
Print Edition
MOST educators today view a whole-child approach to learning as fundamental in preparing children for a well-balanced life. With many organizational models now relying on the collaboration of teams, we see a growing need for building a skill set that includes social and emotional acumen. While academics form the body of formal education, social competencies constitute the heartbeat of healthy growth and development.
Since the mid-nineties when Daniel Goleman raised our awareness of the concept and value of emotional intelligence, educators and school counselors have focused more attention on formalized programs to develop social and emotional competencies. Early elementary students typically learn to recognize and respond to a range of emotions in themselves and others, and upper elementary, middle school and high school students each learn a whole new set of concepts and skills suitable for their age group.
Children at any level who lack the ability to self-regulate emotions and behavior often impede their own learning and negatively impact peer relationships. Without the self-awareness of how their actions affect others or the understanding of others that forms a foundation of care and empathy, it can be difficult to build rapport and trust with peers. Ongoing conflict, feelings of isolation, loneliness, sadness, and worry become a downward spiral that can interfere with academic learning. When parents and teachers notice children disengaging or becoming aggressive, it presents an opportunity to check in on social learning. As adults we tend to focus on stopping any negative behavior. However, asking open-ended questions, acknowledging the mix of emotions, and reflecting on response options boosts the child’s confidence while engaging them in social learning.
Intellectual horsepower remains a valuable commodity. In today’s competitive workplace, high value is placed on emotional intelligence as well as high IQ. When it comes to working with someone who lacks the ability to get along or to understand others, the importance of pairing intelligence and effective social skills becomes immediately clear. Learning social skills and developing character early on is far easier than making corrections later — even if it’s never too late to learn new ways of relating to others.
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