Emotional Intelligence and Politicians – UPSC Ethics

EI is the way of realising one’s own emotions and also others emotions and applying that knowledge to arrive at an optimal solution.

 
Why EI is important for public servants?
  1. Control and understanding of own emotions enables one to take well evaluated decisions and not hurried decisions.
  2. Completion of sub-ordinate work: Emotional persuasion will be more effective rather than physical persuasion to make the sub-ordinates work. EI gives the key to get work done by the sub-ordinates.
  3. To convince the bosses: If the advice was rejected, knowledge of emotions can help in convincing the boss to make them realize what is the use of that advice.
 

 

What traits reflect strong emotional intelligence in an individual? Do you think most Indian politicians have adequate emotional intelligence to run the country? Critically examine. (200 Words)

Emotional Intelligence is the ability to monitor one‘s own and other emotions in social as well as personal level and then taking appropriate actions with basis of stable emotional state.
High Emotional intelligence is required for higher positive health, leadership qualities and peaceful public-private life management. Traits which reflects strong EI in an individual are:
  1. Patient listener and behaving methodology.
  2. Awareness of emotional atmosphere
  3. Self-awareness as well as social awareness
  4. Ability to anticipate other‘s emotions and to respond accordingly.
  5. Control over one‘s emotions.
Emotional Intelligence and Ethics are what differentiate a politician from the Statesman. These days, Politicians are more into catching opportunities and acting accordingly. They lack a solid ideologies as their role keep on changing based on their position as leading and opposition parties. Hence, Emotional Intelligence becomes important in such situation while facing media, press conference and internal party disputes.
Lower cadre Successful Indian politicians are high on EI because of their connectivity with public, approachability to distressed people, they conduct numbers of public meeting and are aware of ground situation and take actions toward it. These make them successful in their initial years. But as they grow high on political ladder, their  responsibility increases and it appears that they are distanced from public but it‘s not entirely true. They are still high on EI and performance, only their sphere of activities has changed and hence lesser public interfacing and greater party member interaction which again requires high EI to be successful.
 
Questions:
  • Do you think emotional intelligence (EI) is must for public servants, especially politicians? Substantiate and also based on your personal experiences critically comment if public servants in India have adequate levels of EI. (200 Words)

 

 

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