4 out of 4 stars
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Everyone has heard of IQ, intelligence quotient, as a way to measure one’s mental or cognitive intelligence. Most of the time we have believed that it is our IQ that determines our success in life. However, our IQ is not able to change much after reaching adulthood and not everyone with a high IQ is successful. Have you heard of emotional intelligence or EI? Emotional intelligence is something that can be developed and improved upon through life experiences and as we grow older. EI is about understanding that our emotions are part of who we are and emotions affect everything we do. One can succeed in life with a good emotional intelligence. That is good news!
The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success by Harvey Deutschendorf, an emotional intelligence coach, first explains what emotional intelligence actually entails and how it affects everything in our lives. There are several chapters discussing our inner world, a look into our own lives, to develop some qualities for increasing our self-awareness, assertiveness, self-regard, self-actualization, and independence. Then, it takes a look at our outer world around us, to develop empathy, healthy relationships, and social responsibility. There are chapters on being adaptable and flexible, how to manage stress, and suggestions on how to control our impulses. There are techniques for increasing happiness and being optimistic given in the book. Finally, the book has an easy, small quiz that readers can take to assess their EI to see their own strengths and weaknesses. This evaluation of one’s own EI will help the individual to focus on and develop strengths, as well as to develop stronger qualities in place of weaknesses, which can be done by following the techniques in the book. Our emotional intelligence can change and develop if we are willing to work on the qualities to bring it about. The appendices include a detailed recommended reading list, websites, and organizations for increasing EI for people who want to further explore all the nuances of emotional intelligence.
I liked the chapters on stress management and impulse control. I would have liked for these two subjects to be elaborated on a bit more, but I did like the suggestions given on how to handle and reduce stress, as well as how to respond slower and control the tongue. I especially liked the chapters on happiness and optimism. I was surprised to learn that forty percent of our happiness is created from within ourselves. We can choose how to react to all situations, we can choose how we think, and we can practice the attitude of gratitude. I best like the quote of William James given in the first chapter of the book:
All through the book, Southwest Airlines Company was given as the prime example of implementing and placing the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. It was made to sound like a dream company, not just to work for, but to be an important part of something. This example showed how the workplace could be transformed where employees’ attitudes and behaviors all contribute to the success of not only the company but also to their own lives as well. I really liked the story of Southwest Airlines’ unique interviewing process to measure a potential employee’s emotional intelligence. It makes me smile just thinking about that story.“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by changing the attitude of the mind.”
The book was written and edited very well. I noticed only two misspelled words. The structure of the book was consistent and clear, outlining each chapter on a quality to gain more emotional intelligence. Each chapter contained a beginning quote, a short explanation of the topic, techniques of increasing the quality, more quotes, and ending in a short story of a real-life example of practicing the quality. As you can tell, I don’t have anything negative to say about this book. It had a lot of research that went into it, but it was balanced with stories and practical applications.
For people who are not interested in self-help books or looking within themselves may like this book the least. Adults who like clear outlines and order in reading about emotional intelligence will like this book. Businesses, companies, sports teams, schools, and counselors may like this book as well, for a key to their success. I rate The Other Kind of Smart 4 out of 4 stars. It is a good resource book that details the importance of emotional intelligence and gives simple, easy techniques to increase its qualities, benefiting the individual as well as the whole.
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The Other Kind of Smart
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when I get a little money I buy books; and if I have any left l buy food and clothes
