Exploring the theoretical perspectives of emotional competence

Emotional Competence can be grouped into personal competence and social competence. Personal competencies, like self-awareness, self-regulation and motivation, determine how we manage ourselves. Social competencies, such as empathy and social skills, determine how well we handle relationships. Sensing what others feel without their saying so captures the essence of empathy. Social skills would include influence, communication, conflict management, leadership, building bonds, collaboration, co-operation and team work. At the very least, empathy requires being able to read another's emotions. At a higher level, it entails sensing and responding to a person's unspoken concerns or feelings. And at the highest levels, empathy is about understanding the issues or concerns that lie behind another's feelings. Unless we have self-awareness, it will be difficult to be conscious of others ’emotional terrain.