Day 39 – Q 3.A bureaucrat’s job is to implement the laws and policies in word and in spirit. If that is the case, then why do bureaucrats need to have emotional intelligence? Substantiate.

3. A bureaucrat’s job is to implement the laws and policies in word and in spirit. If that is the case, then why do bureaucrats need to have emotional intelligence? Substantiate. 

नौकरशाह का काम कानून और नीतियों को शब्द और आत्मा में लागू करना है। यदि ऐसा है, तो नौकरशाहों को भावनात्मक बुद्धिमत्ता की आवश्यकता क्यों है? पुष्टी करें।

Introduction:

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to sense, understand and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection and influence. It is the way of recognizing, understanding and choosing how we think, feel and act. 

Simply put, Emotional Intelligence can be defined as application of state of mind for fruitful purposes.

Body

Generally, we negate the role played by EI in governance, but it helps overcome complexities that surround the present day governance. The importance of EI for bureaucrat is shown by the following reasons-

• Helps in self-regulation– If a bureaucrat is frustrated by his subordinate, whose performance has been poor. If bureaucrat shows frustration and yells at the subordinate, this might affect the subordinate’s performance in a poor way, if bureaucrat sits down with him and discuss the reasons for under performance and understand it, this diagnosis will help him fix the issues. This will yield better performance by subordinates and efficient working environment (esprit de corps). A self-regulated bureaucrat can infuse the same amongst his/her subordinates.
• Better social capital– this will improve the interdepartmental cooperation, a bureaucrat must have to deal and work with many other ministries/ departments, hence better use of EI and relations with bureaucrats of other departments and yield better results.
• Empathy – for civil servant demolishing roadside building must empathize with the plight if those shopkeepers (by providing proper compensation and rehabilitation). Otherwise, he might not receive the support from them and this would in turn lead to a conflict.
• Motivation– If a bureaucrat can condition others emotions (peers, students, vulnerable etc.) such that they urge for higher achievement.
• Focus/ Concentration– If civil servant can control his emotions and stick to his goals with unwavering attention (may be due to threats, abuse) can help him achieve his targets.
• Sensitive issues– issues such as communal tensions, mob lynching, and disasters can be dealt in a better way.
• Stress Management– when there exists mismatch between expectations and reality or shortage of time to implement, an emotionally intelligent person would not surrender himself to anxiety but rather control it and get out of the box ideas.
• Civil service values – foundational values like empathy & Compassion, tolerance, impartiality requires EI. 
• Optimism– this helps bureaucrat by convincing him that every problem has a solution and makes him search for solutions in all possible places and achieve the objective. 

Conclusion

Daniel Goleman asserts that 80% of success at work place is due to emotional quotient and 20% due to intelligence quotient. Intelligence quotient alone cannot solve majority of problems a bureaucrat faces, use of emotional intelligence is a must for better public service delivery as well as Redressal.