Increasing emotion awareness differentially affects Emotional Intelligence traits, abilities and competencies.

Despite the recent interest on the operationalisation and measurement of Emotional intelligence, there has been a dearth of research on how Emotional Intelligence abilities or traits at work can be influenced by different training programmes. The existing research has examined mainly the effects of tuition on changes in EI traits. The study tested the possible effects of a self-administered program to increase emotion awareness on emotional intelligence related Traits, Competencies and Abilities. Four hundred and sixty five (465) career starters in five European sites completed assessments of Emotion competencies, traits and abilities in two times, two months apart. A self-administered training program that was designed to increase awareness of emotion in the self and others was introduced and completed by almost half the participants (Training group). Comparing the training group with those that did not receive training, demonstrated significant changes in Emotion Competencies (Self, awareness, Self, management, and social skills), Emotional abilities (Emotion recognition, Managing others emotions, Empathy at work) and frequency of positive emotions and optimism. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in changes in Social awareness (ECI) or any of the Emotion traits. These results point to the differential impact of various traits and competencies, and highlight the limitations of general-self reported emotion scales in tapping subtle changes in emotion awareness.