In their study, co-authors Dr Jemma King from the University of Queensland's School of Psychology and associate professor Yiqiong Li from UQ's Business School provided EI training to Australian Special Forces soldiers, aiming to build their skills in emotional perception of self, emotional understanding and emotional regulation.
Specifically, the training included:
- a "name to tame" exercise, to aid with labelling and processing emotions;
- breathing techniques;
- mood utilisation strategies to "downregulate" or "upregulate" emotions effectively in high-pressure situations; and
- a storytelling component, illustrating cases where applying EI skills had helped someone achieve success or ensured their survival.
Participants then underwent three realistic, high-pressure "stress activities". These tested their memory recall of tactical combat information, shooting accuracy, and maths performance under stress.
Results (in the form of salivary cortisol measures) showed that the training participants had significantly lower biological stress levels compared to the control group that didn't receive EI training, and superior performance in all three high-pressure activities.
"This shows an ability to regulate emotion and meet the demands of each task while avoiding the performance-degrading effects of effective stress responses," King says.
Applying the findings more broadly, the researchers say integrating EI training into executive development programs could "help leaders manage workplace stress, navigate interpersonal challenges, and make more effective decisions under pressure".
It could also be particularly useful if added to education curricula in fields such as medicine, law, and business, they say, "where emotional regulation is essential for success".
Extra benefits in age of AI
King says that in the age of artificial intelligence, employers should place more value on having staff who are emotionally "in tune".
"Being the most skilled or smartest person in the room doesn't cut it anymore because everyone has access to AI," she says.
"The secret to success will be those leaders who are emotionally intelligent and who can create warmth, trust and charisma.
"Understanding how your body reacts under pressure, what can conjure a particular emotion and how emotions can change are invaluable skills that can also transfer to home life," she adds.
Emotional intelligence training improves stress regulation and performance in high-stress occupations, Jemma B. King, et al, Scientific Reports
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