Emotional Intelligence in Teaching

Emotional intelligence in teaching helps school staff to be better equipped to support the students in their school. Emotional intelligence is an essential skill for all teachers to have as it helps improve classroom dynamics, enhances both personal and student wellbeing and ensures teachers are setting their students up for success. In this article, we’ll explain what emotional intelligence in teaching means and the importance of it in the classroom. We will also provide some examples of emotional intelligence in day-to-day school life and give 10 tips for teaching with emotional intelligence in mind.

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What is Emotional Intelligence in Teaching?

Emotional intelligence (EI) in teaching, also known as emotional quotient (EQ), is your ability to perceive, understand, manage and regulate emotions in the classroom. It means understanding why others behave as they do – including both students and colleagues – recognising how you react to situations yourself, and being able to respond appropriately in all eventualities.

Emotional intelligence usually refers to five main areas: self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, empathy and social skills. These are all essential soft skills for teachers and education professionals to have as they benefit both your personal and professional success and they also have a positive effect on the students you teach.

Good emotional intelligence in teaching will help you to better support the students you work with, communicate with them more effectively and better encourage their academic success. Not only does it help you be a more effective teacher, but also a more supportive, resilient and empathetic role model in your school.

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Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Education

Emotional intelligence plays an important role in education. Not only does it contribute towards your own personal and professional development, but it also influences the academic success and daily wellbeing of your students. Being exposed to positive emotional intelligence throughout school life can provide students with the foundation and example they need for developing their own positive habits later in life.

Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Teachers

The benefits that good emotional intelligence has on teachers include:

• The ability to teach with confidence.
• Greater job satisfaction.
• Increased ability to adapt and think on your feet.
• Better resilience.
• Better stress management.
• Reduced likelihood of burnout at work.
• Positive knock-on effects on the whole school.
• More impactful contribution towards the emotional wellbeing of students.
• More proactive continued personal development. 

Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Student Outcomes

Possessing good emotional intelligence skills also has a positive impact on the students you teach. For example, emotional intelligence can:

• Enhance engagement and motivation in the classroom.
• Establish a positive learning environment.
• Enhance academic performance.
• Prepare students for success in life.
• Create a safe place for students at school.
• Help students to feel more comfortable talking about mental health issues, such as bullying, self-harm or feelings of depression.
• Encourage students to be more resilient.
• Provide an example of EI for students to model themselves.

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Examples of Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom

Here are three day-to-day examples of how a teacher might use or display emotional intelligence in the classroom:

Helping a student manage frustration during a difficult task (empathy, self-regulation, social awareness)

A student gets visibly upset when they can’t solve a maths problem. Instead of shouting at them or rushing them, the teacher calmly acknowledges the student’s frustration (“I can see this is really frustrating you”) encourages them to take a short break and then approach the problem step-by-step.

Diffusing a conflict between two students (conflict resolution, active listening, self-control)

Two students start arguing during group work. Rather than ignoring it or escalating the situation, the teacher steps in, listens to both sides without judgment and helps them understand each other’s perspectives, guiding them to resolve the conflict respectfully.

Adjusting teaching style based on class mood (emotional awareness, adaptability)

On a rainy Monday morning, the mood in the classroom is low-energy and disengaged. The teacher senses the mood and shifts their lesson plan to focus on a more interactive activity that re-engages students, rather than pushing on through their original plan.

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10 Tips for Teaching with Emotional Intelligence

Below are 10 tips for teachers to help you develop your students’ emotional intelligence and incorporate emotional intelligence into your lesson plans:

1. Encourage self-awareness – get students to reflect on their feelings by asking questions like ‘What could I have done differently?’ A classroom that supports self-awareness helps students to regulate emotions and engage more in their learning.
2. Teach self-regulation – support students to manage thoughts and emotions with techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing and positive self-talk. Helping them reframe challenges as opportunities builds resilience.
3. Expand emotional vocabulary – interpersonal skills can be developed by helping students to distinguish between their emotions, describe them accurately and then respond appropriately.
4. Promote active listening – teach students to listen with intent, use body language and response to show understanding. This enhances communication skills and strengthens peer relationships.
5. Encourage empathy – use activities that promote perspective and emotional understanding. For example, the simple activity of reading fiction can develop empathy by exposing students to different viewpoints and experiences.
6. Create a supportive classroom culture – model emotionally intelligent behaviour for your students to copy and create a classroom atmosphere based on empathy, respect and cooperation. A safe and supportive environment is key to both emotional wellbeing and academic success.
7. Encourage goal setting and reflection – guide students to set personal and academic goals, then support them to reflect on their progress and setbacks. This helps to create a sense of responsibility and emotional resilience.
8. Use role play and scenarios – incorporate active learning into lessons to help students explore their emotional responses in real-life situations. For example, how to navigate conflict, express disagreement or offer support to others.
9. Celebrate emotional intelligence – acknowledge when students have demonstrated good emotional intelligence, such as managing their frustration or showing kindness to others. Recognising these behaviours reinforces their value.
10. Encourage peer collaboration – design group tasks that require cooperation and communication, as working with others helps students to practise empathy, patience and problem-solving.

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Emotional intelligence is an important aspect of both the teaching and learning experiences. Teachers and students alike need to possess strong emotional intelligence skills if they want to improve their wellbeing, better support each other and achieve their full potential, whether academic, personal or professional. Therefore, adapting lessons with emotional intelligence skills in mind is highly beneficial for everyone in the classroom.

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Further Resources:

• CPD Courses for Teaching and Education
• What is EQ? A Guide to Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
• How to Teach with Confidence
• What’s the Importance of Reflective Practice in Teaching?
• 8 Teaching Methods to Use in the Classroom
• What is Effective Teaching?
• Professional Development Plan for Teachers