Emotional Intelligence in Medicine
Written by Mimi Lyang
As pre-medical students, we work so hard to show medical schools that we can be “book smart,” but what exactly does it mean to be emotionally intelligent? Daniel Goleman lists the key components of emotional intelligence (EI) as self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and relationship skills. Goleman explained that someone with high EI has awareness and regulation of their emotions that are directed both inward, to oneself (“personal competence”), and outward, to others (“social competence”). In an observational study of 110 internists and 2872 patients, Weng et al. found that higher self-rated emotional intelligence was significantly associated with less burnout and higher job satisfaction. Additionally, in healthcare, every team member is important – whether you are a physician, social worker, or part of the environmental services team – you play a role in providing patient care. Research shows three conditions are essential to a group’s effectiveness: trust among members, a sense of group identity, and a sense of group efficacy (Druskat). Therefore, there are clear connections between how one’s emotional intelligence can benefit not only themselves but also their teammates. In medicine, this will ultimately benefit the patients we take care of.
Lisa Goren wrote that emotionally intelligent people are open about their weaknesses, willing to change course, and quick to admit “I don’t know.” Goren also shares tips for building EQ in the healthcare field, which include practicing self-care, pausing before responding to emotional situations, and being curious and asking questions instead of assuming. As a medical student on rotations, I have learned that vulnerability and humility are two traits that make a great physician. In healthcare, it is important to remember that our patients are human beings who come to us in times of need. By admitting and understanding that there are things we may never know and knowing when to change diagnoses and/or treatment plans, we remind our patients that we are also human beings who make mistakes. Showing humility can help build trust and strengthen physician-patient relationships.
Throughout the past 3 years of medical school, I have noticed times where I have benefitted from practicing emotional intelligence. Specifically, I had an experience as an executive board member in an organization in which a disagreement came up between me and another team member. To compound the disagreement, there was a lack of communication. After the conflict was resolved, I reflected on things I could have done differently. During this experience, I assumed that I knew the reasoning behind my team member’s actions, and I was quick to react. Instead, I could have paused and taken a moment to collect my thoughts and feelings, then approached my colleague privately to discuss what had happened afterward. In the end, I grew as both an individual and a team member from this experience. I gained invaluable lessons about myself and discovered effective ways to approach similarly difficult situations in the future. Ultimately, I was able to recognize the role I played and focus on what I could have done to handle the conflict differently. I grew in my ability to effectively communicate, respect others’ opinions, and stay strong for myself – all traits that are important in the field of medicine.
As a prospective general surgery resident, I am aware that my responsibilities will greatly increase, which means my stress will also increase accordingly. During my years in residency, there will undoubtedly be times of unprecedented stress and change. I aspire to be an individual who is vulnerable and honest with myself, my teammates, and my patients. Thus, I would ideally also want to find a program with attendings and residents who are understanding, humble, and empathetic to both themselves and others around them. This way, I will have various opportunities to grow and continue strengthening my emotional intelligence throughout residency and beyond.
References:
Druskat, V. U., & Wolff, S. B. (2001, March 1). Building the Emotional Intelligence of Groups. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2001/03/building-the-emotional-intelligence-of-groups
Goleman, D. (2015, April 7). How to Be Emotionally Intelligent. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/education/edlife/how-to-be-emotionally-intelligent.h tml
Goren, L. (2018). Ten Strategies for Building Emotional Intelligence and Preventing Burnout. Family Practice Management, 25(1), 11–14.
Weng, H.-C., Hung, C.-M., Liu, Y.-T., Cheng, Y.-J., Yen, C.-Y., Chang, C.-C., & Huang, C.-K. (2011). Associations between emotional intelligence and doctor burnout, job satisfaction and patient satisfaction. Medical Education, 45(8), 835–842. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2011.03985.
