Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness Flashcards

What is 'emotional contagion' and why is it significant for leadership coaches to understand?

Answer: The process by which one person's emotions spread to and influence those around them

Emotional contagion is the tendency for people to automatically mimic and synchronize emotional expressions, meaning leaders' moods can quickly spread throughout their teams.

How does regular mindfulness practice primarily support the development of emotional intelligence in leaders?

Answer: It enhances self-awareness by training attention to present-moment thoughts and feelings

Mindfulness practice builds the metacognitive capacity to observe one's own thoughts and emotions without judgment, which is the foundation of emotional self-awareness.

A coaching client keeps a reflective journal to track emotional patterns after difficult interactions. This practice primarily supports development of which EI competency?

Answer: Self-awareness

Reflective journaling builds self-awareness by helping individuals identify recurring emotional patterns, triggers, and the impact of their responses over time.

Which leadership style, identified in Goleman's research, is most associated with leaders who demonstrate high emotional intelligence and adapt their approach to followers' developmental needs?

Answer: Coaching

The coaching leadership style involves high EI — particularly empathy, self-awareness, and social skills — and is focused on developing each person's long-term capabilities.

The 'Window of Tolerance' concept, applied in coaching, refers to:

Answer: The optimal zone of emotional arousal in which a person can function and learn effectively

The Window of Tolerance describes the optimal zone of arousal where a person is neither hyper- nor hypo-aroused and can engage, reflect, and learn most effectively.

A leader receives critical feedback and immediately becomes defensive and dismissive. A coach working on EI development would FIRST help the client:

Answer: Recognize the emotional trigger and the physiological response it produced

The first step in EI coaching is building awareness of the emotional trigger and one's physiological reaction before moving to any cognitive reframing or action.

How does high emotional intelligence contribute to a leader's effectiveness during organizational change?

Answer: It enables leaders to sense and address team members' fears and resistance empathetically while maintaining direction

Leaders with high EI can read team members' emotional responses to change, validate concerns empathetically, and maintain motivation and direction simultaneously.