Emotional Intelligence: Implications for Human Resource Development - Annotated Bibliography Example

Article review Conflict (about Leadership and Dealing with Conflict) by Dennis Coon I believe that Dennis Coon defines conflict as something known to create a special kind of frustration. When an individual makes a decision between incompatible needs, desires or external demands, he or she experiences conflict. There are four forms of conflict that need to be well understood. Approach –Approach conflict – The simplest conflict comes from having to choose between two positive alternatives. For example choosing between orange marmalade or peanut butter may throw you into a temporary conflict. However, approach approach conflict tends to be the easiest ones to resolve. Avoidance –avoidance conflicts – this kind of conflicts are based on being forced to choose between two negative or undesirable alternatives. For example a person in an avoidance conflict is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea or between pregnancy or conflict. This kind of conflict is also difficult to resolve. Approach –avoidance conflict – This kind of conflict is also difficult to resolve. This kind of conflicts is more troublesome than avoidance conflicts. A person that is caught in an approach –avoidance conflict is “caught” being simultaneously attracted to and repelled by the same goal and activity. A characteristic of this kind of conflict is an ambivalence which is a mixture of both negative and positive feelings. Double approach –avoidance conflicts- when a person is approach with such a conflict, he tends to waver between the alternatives. For example a man that is attracted to two women but both of them have qualities that you like and dislike. In such situations,a person is left in a dilemma. I agree with the authors method of dealing with conflicts which include: do not be hasty when making important decisions, try out important decisions partially when possible, look at workable compromises when choosing between two alternatives and when all falls, make a decision and live with it. 2- Leadership as Empowering Others (How does the ability to empower others contribute to effective leadership) I believe that a person should develop emotional intelligence in order to gain entry in a given organization. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the intelligent use of emotions to help guide an individuals behavior towards enhancing results (Weisinger, 1998). It can be used as an effective predictor in the organization. Especially in determining a persons leadership qualities, if he/she is a team player, how they solve conflicts or how they deal with the organizational complexities. In the Ability Model of Emotional Intelligence by (Salovey & Mayer, 1990) they came up with four branches that recognize the meaning of emotion so as to enhance cognitive activity. They include perceive emotion in others, use of emotion to guide thinking, understand how emotion operates and manage and regulate emotion. This model which was revised later on is operationalized as an ability measure of EI thus affirming that answers can be right or wrong. The Meyer-Salovey-Caruso EI Test (MSCEIT) is an ability test designed to test the four branches of the Ability model. The other model, The Competency Model of Emotional Intelligence is defined as learned capabilities based on individual possessing emotional intelligence. Its made up of twenty competences grouped into four ( Goleman, 2001). The more competency that an individual possesses; specific to their relation to others, the more emotionally intelligent they are. Any measure taken by the organization to develop the EI should be specific as different contexts will be more conducive to certain development programs. 3- Emotional Intelligence: Implications for Human Resource Development (Dealing with Conflict) In his letter Dr. King emphasizes that he has compelled his black community to follow non violent ways in their quest for justice. He in fact commends the activities in the “Nigro” church movement for helping realize a violent free struggle. He states that, “ I am grateful to God that, through the influence of Negro church the way of nonviolence became an integral part of our society.” Thus a good leader calls his people to act in accordance with their highest values. A good leader must be a good communicator. Dr. Kings extensive letter to the clergymen explaining why the struggle still continued helped articulate his disappointment with the system. He was a good orator as well as a writer. His letter encapsulates the reasons for the struggle, the cause that hope to take and the end result they hoped to achieve. Thus a good leader should be able to effectively communicate either verbally or through written communication. In the letter King regards the new Birmingham administration as the previous one. Their resistance to change is evident as the appointed commissioner shares the same values as the previous one. He is cognizant that their push for their rights should continue until the new commissioner accepts and accords them equal rights. 4- Letter from Birmingham Jail(Leadership and Dealing with Resistance To Change) In his letter Dr. King emphasizes that he has compelled his black community to follow non violent ways in their quest for justice. He in fact commends the activities in the “Nigro” church movement for helping realize a violent free struggle. He states that, “ I am grateful to God that, through the influence of Negro church the way of nonviolence became an integral part of our society.” Thus a good leader calls his people to act in accordance with their highest values. A good leader must be a good communicator. Dr. Kings extensive letter to the clergymen explaining why the struggle still continued helped articulate his disappointment with the system. He was a good orator as well as a writer. His letter encapsulates the reasons for the struggle, the cause that hope to take and the end result they hoped to achieve. Thus a good leader should be able to effectively communicate either verbally or through written communication. In the letter King regards the new Birmingham administration as the previous one. Their resistance to change is evident as the appointed commissioner shares the same values as the previous one. He is cognizant that their push for their rights should continue until the new commissioner accepts and accords them equal rights. 5- The Iliad (Leadership and Dealing with Conflict) Attributed to Homer (9th Century) The Iliad deals with passion and insoluble dilemmas. The major characters in Trojan war are Agamemnon who was arrogant and autocratic commander in chief and Achilles, the Greeks best field commander. The Iliad is much more than just a war story. It is the dramatic tale of how conflict can destroy an enterprise, and it is an excellent study of what happens when the needs of the individual and an organization are out of balance. The Iliad begins with a conflict in the Greek camp when an old man. Chryses comes to plead for the return of his daughter. She is in the custody of the overall leader of the Greeks, Agamemnon. After, Achilles assures that he will support Chryes. Chalchas points a finger to blame the king and calls him the prophet of evil. Both Agamemnon and Achilles have individual senses of pride and honor but are blind of the greater good. Homer is able to show how a noble human trait can be changed by emotion into irrationality or pettiness. The initial conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles is mediated by Nestor. Achilles’ anger seems like a valid response to the arrogance of Agamnemnon. However, as the story progresses it is evident that this righteous anger can degenerate into mere resentment or escalate into uncontrollable rage. The necessity for this kind of reason as discussed by Dennis Coon shows Approach –avoidance conflict that Achilles faces as he is to choose between self-control over emotions . This becomes the overriding idea of the story of the Iliad. 6- Allegory of the Cave(Leadership and Dealing with Resistance To Change) The Allegory of the Cave is a narrative that was used by the Greek philosopher. It is an extended allegory that shows how human are imprisoned by their bodies and what they perceive by sight only. This is a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon. The Allegory of the Cave is a seminal piece where Socrates asks Glaucon to imagine a scenario where people actually live their entire lives in a dark world that is full of shadows and light refractions from fires that are behind them. It is an indication that Socrates is trying to unchain others by helping them arrive at the truth. It helps them to deal with the resistance to change. The fundamental elements of leadership seemed to have originated in Ancient Greece. From this story, believe that a true leader has two abilities: the ability to escape the false reality of the cave and to enter into enlightenment and the ability to return o the cave and convince the common man to join him outside the cave and become knowledgable. Movies Crash The movie Crash brings out a sociological perspective on conflict as discussed by various sociologists including Max Weber and Karl Marx. It mainly brings out the aspect of inequality in the society based on gender, race, social class and the economic position of an individual. These differences among people will always benefit some individuals at the expense of others. Many of the characters in the movie discriminate each other based on their race. One instance is where a Muslim is forbidden from buying a gun just because he is a Muslim. To solve all these conflicts, the director of the movie tries to bring out areas where people have to rely on each other to make it in life. One is taught to depend on their neighbor during tough times hence helping eliminate the major differences that previously brought conflicts. Norma Rae The film Norma Rae which brings out the aspect of working together for the benefit of all. There are two main characters in this movie namely Norma Rae and Reuben Warshofsky. They both combine their leadership skills to start a Textile Workers union of America. They believe that by empowering the dwellers of the town to work as one for the benefit of all, they will have helped to achieve a major goal of unity as well as economic development and empowerment. They also try to empower every individual with some leadership skills for their own good. Exercise two Corporate Maze The corporate maze is one of the most powerful team building exercise. It highlights what culture and atmosphere in the team. This exercise creates an opportunity to evaluate the team culture and to know how it limits an individual’s initiative. The participants in team building learn what types of supportive behaviors are that are essential to for the entire team to be successful. The members of this team get to understand how improved support, energy, trust and accountability can indirectly improve the bottom line. Same Again Wine company I would recommend that the company should encourage gender and racial equality. Good employers should value the importance of diversity. Employees will perform at work to their best of their ability when their difference and identity in contribution is valued. Ethnic and gender diversity is good for business because a range employees with a range of backgrounds bring different ideas that will enable the employer to contribute to success and innovation at Same Again Wine company. This company should employ Males at the Accounts Department, females at the Sales Department and other ethnic groups in the Production Department. Read More