Navigating Emotional Intelligence: From Goleman to the Bhagavad Gita

Emotional intelligence is the skill of recognizing and managing your own feelings while also picking up on the emotions of those around you. It’s about finding the sweet spot where your heart and head work together, helping you build stronger friendships, lead others with confidence, and stay mentally balanced. I love to cross: Emotional Intelligence (EI) in the Age of AI. Today, I want to show you how we can navigate this journey all the way from the modern psychology of Daniel Goleman to the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.

Are You Ready to Level Up?

Before we dive into the ‘how-to,’ I want to ask you a few honest questions:

• Do you want to level up your performance at work and in your private life?
• Are you ready to truly understand the ‘why’ behind your emotions?
• Instead of falling back on old habits, would you like to choose how you respond to life’s challenges?
• Do you want to build deeper, more authentic connections?
  (Hughes, Patterson & Terrell, 2005).

If you’re nodding along, you’re going to love exploring the world of Emotional Intelligence.”

The Roots of the Idea

“EI isn’t just a modern trend. It’s been evolving for a long time. We can trace it back to Edward Thorndike’s ‘Social Intelligence’ in 1920. Prior to this, Darwin’s early work on emotional expression for survival and adaptation, can be taken as the theoretical foundation of emotional intelligence. Further, Wechsler’s intelligent behavior advocated non-intellective abilities more than intellectual ability. In the year 1983, Howard Gardner came up with the idea of multiple intelligence (Moran & Gardner, 2018). In a memoir, entitled ‘A Synthesizing Mind: A Memoir from the Creator of Multiple Intelligence Theory, Gardner (2020) asserts that Multiple Intelligence (MI) theory is based on empirical findings. MI consists of linguistic intelligence, musical intelligence, logical mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence and personal intelligence.

There are three major theoretical frameworks of EI, including Goleman’s model, the Ability model, and the Bar-On model.

I briefly touch upon Golemen’s model here.

In his book Working with Emotional Intelligence, Goleman (1998) introduced a comprehensive framework of emotional intelligence, emphasizing how individuals manage themselves through personal competence and navigate relationships through social competence. According to Goleman (1998), personal competence consists of three core components: self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation. These are further broken down into twelve specific competencies, including emotional awareness, accurate self- assessment, self-confidence, self-control, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability, innovation, achievement drive, commitment, initiative and optimism.

The Four-Quadrant Model

The Goleman-Boyatzis model organizes EI into four distinct domains, split between Recognition (awareness) and Regulation (management), as well as Self (internal) and Social (external).

1. Self-Awareness
This is the foundation of the model. It involves a deep understanding of one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values.
Key Competency: Emotional Self-Awareness. Knowing how your feelings affect your performance and the people around you.

2. Self-Management
Once you are aware of your emotions, this domain focuses on controlling them, especially in high-pressure situations.
Key Competencies: Emotional Self-Control, Adaptability, Achievement Orientation, and Positive Outlook are the competencies under this domain.

3. Social Awareness
This is the “outer” awareness—the ability to read the room and understand the emotions of others.
Key Competencies: Empathy and Organizational Awareness (understanding the power dynamics and “vibes” within a company).

4. Relationship Management
This is the application of the previous three domains to interact effectively with others.

Key Competencies: Influence, Coaching/Mentoring, Conflict Management, Teamwork, and Inspirational Leadership.

Relevance in the Workplace

Goleman and Boyatzis argue that while IQ and technical skills are “threshold capabilities” (the bare minimum to get the job), Emotional Intelligence is the “distinguishing competency” that separates average performers from top-tier leaders.

• Conflict Resolution: Leaders with high EI don’t ignore tension; they use empathy to understand both sides and find a “win-win” resolution.
• Organizational Climate: Research shows that a leader’s EI directly affects the “climate” or mood of the office, which in turn accounts for up to 20-30% of a company’s financial performance.
• Resilience and Change: In a modern, volatile workplace, the “Adaptability” and “Positive Outlook” competencies allow employees to pivot during crises without burning out.
• Coaching Culture: The 2017 model emphasizes that great managers aren’t just bosses; they are mentors who develop others’ potential through relationship management.

In a nutshell, the ‘Four Quadrant Model‘ we use today provides four domains of EI.

1. Self-Awareness: Knowing your emotions.
2. Self-Management: Controlling them under pressure.
3. Social Awareness: Reading the room and sensing others’ needs.
4. Relationship Management: Influencing and leading others through empathy.

The Deep Dive: Lessons from the Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is fundamentally a manual for Emotional Intelligence (EI). It transitions Arjuna from emotional paralysis to enlightened action through self-awareness and regulation.

1. The Power of Listening In Chapter 1, Arjuna is overwhelmed. He’s confused and ready to give up. Krishna doesn’t interrupt him. He speaks only once in the first chapter. He waits until Arjuna asks for help in Chapter 2, saying, ‘I am Your disciple… kindly tell me what is best for me.‘ This teaches us that the best leaders are great listeners who only offer guidance when the other person is ready to hear it.

2. The Timeless Soul (Motivation) When Arjuna is paralyzed by fear, Krishna gives him a perspective shift. He tells him: ‘The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die.‘ By explaining that the ‘essence’ of a person is eternal and ageless, Krishna removes the fear of failure. He uses the beautiful analogy of clothing: just as we throw away old clothes for new ones, the soul sheds old bodies. This is the ultimate lesson in resilience.

3. The ‘Karma’ of the Workplace Krishna’s most famous advice is about focus: ‘You have the right to work, but never to the fruits of work.’ In modern terms, this is about process over outcome. If you focus too much on the ‘reward’ or the ‘result,’ you lose the quality of the ‘now.’

True EI involves decoupling one’s effort from the anxiety of the outcome. This ensures peak performance without the burden of stress.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | (2.47) “You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”

4. Mind & Anger Management The Gita warns us that angry feelings impair judgment, which leads to ‘memory confusion’ and the destruction of the intellect. To combat this, Krishna introduces the Sthitapragya—the person of steady wisdom. This is someone who isn’t shaken by suffering or intoxicated by pleasure. They are free from attachment, fear, and rage.”

I find a few additional learnings from Gita.

1. Self-Awareness & Vulnerability
EI begins with acknowledging one’s emotional state. When Arjuna is overwhelmed by anxiety, he practices self-awareness by seeking mentorship.

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव: पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: | (2.7) “My natural traits are overcome by faint-heartedness; I am confused about my duty. I am Your disciple; please instruct me.”

2. Relationship Management (The Guru-Disciple Bond)
Krishna’s first response is a “tough love” intervention to break Arjuna’s delusion, showcasing the ability to influence others’ emotional states for their growth.

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् | (2.2) “How has this delusion come over you at this inappropriate time? It is unbecoming of a noble soul.”

3. Self-Regulation: Anger & Mind Management

The Gita identifies the “ripple effect” of unregulated emotions. If anger is not managed, it leads to a total collapse of the intellect.
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम: | (2.63) “Anger leads to clouding of judgment, which causes loss of memory. This destroys the intellect, leading to total ruin.”

To counter this, Krishna offers the solution of Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (detachment):

असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् | अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || (6.35) “Undoubtedly, the mind is restless and hard to curb, but it can be restrained through constant practice and detachment.”

4. The Goal: The Sthitapragya (The Emotionally Balanced)

The pinnacle of EI in the Gita is the Sthitapragya—a person of steady wisdom who remains unshakeable amidst life’s highs and lows.
दु:खेष्वनुद्विग्नमना: सुखेषु विगतस्पृह: | वीतरागभयक्रोध: स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते || (2.56) “One whose mind remains undisturbed by distress, who does not crave pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is a sage of steady wisdom.”

Practical Recommendations for You

“So, how do we bring Krishna and Goleman into our offices tomorrow? Here is what I recommend:

• Emotional Insight: Look beyond the rank and understand the human being.
• The Reflective Leader: Make self-realization a habit. Have the courage to evaluate your own work.
• The Empathy Mandate: Empathy isn’t a weakness; it’s the cornerstone of diplomatic leadership.
• Reliability as Currency: Our word is our bond. Honor your promises.
• Continuous Learning: Make the study of Emotional Intelligence a permanent part of your life.

In a world of machines learning and artificial intelligence, our humanity is our greatest strength.

(This article is based on the presentation of Dr. Poudel during the celebration of Center for Diplomacy and Development’s 8th Anniversary at Hotel Himalaya on February 05, 2026)