Slide 1 – Emotional Intelligence
Let’s start with the basics — What is Emotional Intelligence, or EI?
EI is the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, and to recognise and
influence the emotions of others. It’s more than just “being nice” or “sensitive” — it’s a
practical skill that affects decision-making, relationships, and performance.
Experts generally identify five main elements:
1. Self-perception – knowing one’s strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers.
2. Self-control – managing one’s reactions and staying composed under stress.
3. Motivation – maintaining drive, even without external rewards.
4. Empathy – sensing how others are feeling and responding appropriately.
5. Social skills – building relationships, collaborating, and communicating effectively.
Daniel Goleman popularised the concept, showing that EI often outweighs IQ in predicting
success. And in our AI-driven age, this is truer than ever.
Slide 2 – Introduction
Now, why are we talking about EI today? The main question is:
“Why has Emotional Intelligence become such an important skill recently, and how will
it help young graduates navigate the complexities of AI-driven disruption?”
Our world is transforming faster than ever. Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries —
automating processes, analysing massive datasets, and even producing creative content.
While this creates opportunities, it also brings challenges: job transitions, ethical concerns,
and a faster pace of change than many can handle.
We’ll look at how EI complements AI by filling the human gaps: empathy, ethics,
adaptability, and trust. This balance will be key for future careers — especially for those just
starting out.
Slide 3 – Goleman’s Quadrant Model
Daniel Goleman breaks EI into four quadrants that work together.
1. Self-awareness – Recognising one’s emotions and effects on their behaviour. For
example, if one notices they’re anxious before a presentation, they can take steps to
calm themselves rather than letting nerves control their delivery.
2. Self-management – Staying in control, adaptable, and positive even in uncertain
conditions. This includes resilience under pressure.
3. Social awareness – Understanding the emotions of others, reading situations, and
showing empathy. In a workplace, this could mean recognising when a colleague is
overwhelmed and offering support.
4. Relationship management – Using emotional understanding to lead, influence, and
resolve conflicts. This is essential for teamwork, coaching, and building long-term
trust.
Slide 4 – EI as an Important Skill
So, why has EI become even more important today?
Conflict Resolution in Hybrid and Remote Workplaces – Without face-to-face
contact, misunderstandings arise more easily. EI enables mediation and negotiation to
keep teams aligned.
Building a Harmonious Work Environment – Emotional intelligence fosters
respect, empathy, and open communication.
Creating Trust and Teamwork – Trust isn’t built on technical skill alone — it’s
built on relationships.
Service & Knowledge-Based Economy – As economies shift towards services,
emotional skills become as important as technical expertise.
Simply put, in an era where AI handles data, EI handles people.
Slide 5 – Technological Disruption
Technological disruption refers to innovations that make older technologies obsolete.
We’ve seen this throughout history:
The printing press replacing handwritten manuscripts.
Streaming replacing DVDs.
E-commerce changing the way we shop.
Today, the disruptor at the centre of everything is Artificial Intelligence. AI isn’t just
improving existing systems — it’s redefining how we work, learn, and communicate.
The challenge? Technology changes faster than human adaptability, which can cause
uncertainty and stress.
Slide 6 – Artificial Intelligence
AI can now generate ideas, text, images, videos, and even music. It can perform some tasks
faster and more accurately than humans.
Benefits include:
Economic efficiency – lower costs for repetitive processes.
Time savings – automation frees us for creative or strategic work.
Fewer repetitive mistakes – algorithms don’t tire or forget steps.
But AI lacks empathy, moral judgment, and the ability to understand nuanced human
contexts. This is where EI becomes irreplaceable — as a counterbalance to AI’s purely
logical operations.
Slide 7 – Risks of Technological Disruption
Technological change comes with risks:
1. Ethical Concerns – AI reflects the biases of its creators. Without human oversight, it
can make flawed decisions.
2. Hybrid and Remote Work Conflicts – Misalignment happens faster without strong
relationship management skills.
3. Disruption Fatigue – Rapid change can overwhelm individuals, leading to resistance
or burnout.
4. Knowledge-Based Economy Challenges – Jobs now require constant upskilling and
adaptability.
In each of these risks, emotionally intelligent leaders can step in to bridge the human-
technology gap.
Slide 8 – Role of EI for Young Graduates
For young graduates entering the workforce, EI is more than an asset — it’s a survival tool.
Mental Well-being – EI helps one manage stress, adapt to change, and stay
motivated during uncertainty.
Career Resilience – Employers value those who can adapt and recover quickly from
setbacks.
Conflict Resolution Skills – Negotiation and mediation set one apart in team settings.
Learning Agility – The ability to absorb new knowledge and adapt quickly is critical
in fast-changing industries.
In short, while AI might land one the interview, EI will help them keep — and grow — in the
job.
Slide 9 – Conclusion
To conclude:
Emotional Intelligence has become indispensable in the age of AI. It helps us handle change,
build strong relationships, and make ethical decisions in complex situations.
The future is not a competition between AI and EI. The real power lies in AI and EI
working together — AI driving efficiency, and EI ensuring humanity remains at the centre
of progress.
Thank you for your attention.
