Increasing Awareness of Emotional Intelligence in a Business Curriculum

Abstract

IN TODAY'S GLOBAL, "bigger is better" business environment, the need for intrapersonal awareness and interpersonal communication skills is greater than ever. Business schools are being asked to address this need by increasing attention to communication coursework in the business curricula. In fact, the Management Education Task Force of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) issued a report in April 2002 that called for an increase of instruction in communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills to make curricula more relevant to "today's global workplace" (Doria, Rozanski, & Cohen, 2003). Furthermore, as a response to feedback from employers, alumni, and executive advisors, business schools across the country are addressing the need for an increased emphasis on "people skills" by teaching business students the soft skills that set exemplary managers apart from their typical peers (Alsop, 2002, p. R11) and that enhance their ability to negotiate the "interpersonal dimension" of work life (Muir, 2004).Whereas the ability to gather, interpret, analyze, and respond to data may be a function of technical competency, the ability to receive, interpret, analyze, and respond to messages, both external and internal, is regulated by one's emotional intelligence (EI). EI is "a type of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' 44 Authors' Note: The authors would like to thank the journal reviewers for their helpful suggestions that made this a stronger article. We also wish to thank our colleague Theresa Moran for her insightful editorial comments.

The overall impact of emotional intelligence on nursing students and nursing

“…[30] Both undergraduate and graduate business curricula benefit from EI for the teaching of effective collaboration, adaptability, and critical thinking. [3132333435]…”

Digital Business Discourse

“…More recently, Goleman's findings about the success of those with EI has led to more detailed examinations of how EI can be applied to the business world, including the development of business communication, curriculum, leadership development, and conflict management strategies (Abraham, 2006;Ashkanasy & Dasborough, 2003;Myers & Tucker, 2005;Rahim et al, 2002;Tucker et al, 2000). Emotional intelligence is needed within the work environment in both the intrapersonal and interpersonal contexts.…”

“…Subsequently, research focusing on the conceptual integration of emotional intelligence into business education curriculum has more recently evolved. Myers and Tucker (2005) utilized the inclusion of student-centered assignments focusing on self-assessment and journaling, in-class role-play and discussion, and an interview with the development of a case analysis to cultivate students' knowledge of EI. Abraham (2006) recognized the importance for well-developed EI in the workplace, particularly for accountants, and encouraged accounting faculty at business schools to integrate EI in the teaching of leadership.…”

Emotion in Organizations

“…"The purpose of this exercise is to emphasize emotions as a central, rather than hidden, part of work life" (p. 477). Myers and Tucker (2005) provide a series of in-and out-of-class assignments to increase awareness of EI in a business communications course. The first part of the series includes completing an EI assessment, reading a short book on EI, creating an EI self-improvement plan, and journaling student progress on the plan weekly.…”