Emotional Competences
Capabilities for self-knowledge, self-regulation and personal wellbeing.
Emotional competences are the set of capabilities that allow people recognize, understand, express and regulate their own emotions, as well as to perceive and respond adequately to others' emotions. These competences are closely linked to personal balance, psychological wellbeing and the quality of interpersonal relations in all life contexts.
In contrast with instrumental competencies - focused on the use of cognitive tools - and with social competences - oriented towards the interaction with other people-, emotional competences are positioned in the interpersonal dimension, constituting the basis on which balanced behaviors, conscious decisions and healthy relations are built.
What do emotional competences include?
Emotional competences cover abilities and attitudes related with the conscious management of the emotional world. Among the most relevant can be found:
- Emotional awarenessCapability to identify and understand own emotions, as well as to recognize their origin and their effects in the behavior.
- Adequate emotional expression:Ability to express emotions and feelings in a balanced, respectful and context-appropiate way.
- Emotional self-regulation:Capability to manage strong emotions, control impulses, tolerate frustation and keep emotional balance in stressful and pressure situations.
- Self-confidence and self-esteem:Recognition of own's personal value, of the capabilities and limits, and the development of a positive and realistic perception of oneself.
- Personal motivation:Capability to guide emotions towards personal objectives, keep the effort and preserve in light of difficulties.
- Emotional empathy:Ability to perceive and understand others' emotions, favouring sensitive and adjusted answers.
These competences are not innate and inmutable features, but rather capabilities that can be developed and enforced throughout life by means of experience, reflection and learning.
Importance of emotional competences
Emotioanl competences develop a key role in:
- Personal wellbeing and emotional health.
- Making of conscious and responsible decisions.
- Management of stress and pressure.
- Prevention of conflicts and handling of difficult situations.
- The quality of personal and professional relations.
An adequate emotional development contributes to a major stability, an improved adaptation to changes and a healthier relation with oneself and with the environment.
Emotional competences and professional environment
In the laboral context, emotional competences are more and more valued, since they influence directly in the performance, coesxistence and work sustainability. They allow:
- Face pressure, change or uncertain situations.
- Keep motivation and professional commitment.
- Manage mistakes, citiques and frustations in a constructive way.
- Favour positive and healthy laboral climates.
- Prevent emotional wasting and chronic stress.
These competences are specially relevant in professions with social, educational, sanitary and attentive to people character, although they result necessary in any professional context.
A pillar for personal development throughout life
Beyond work, emotional competences are fundamental for daily life, the building the balanced relations and the development of a solid personal identity. They facilitate one's acceptation, reslience in light of difficulties and the capability of enjoying positive experiences.
In set, emotional competences constitute an essential pillar of personal development, since they allow people understand and manage their emotional world in a conscious manner, favouring wellbeing, autonomy and a healthier relation with others and with the environment.
