I agreed with previous posts (from @aaq2 & @ppp23 …) about the definition of EI, the importance of EI in marketing and Kidwell’s paper. I also think that EI is essential in marketing
However, I would like to add a few points about the “cons” of EI that haven’t been mentioned. I believe these points are not “negative” but they are something worth paying attention to.
1. “It can be used to manipulate people”. This one is quite self-explanatory.
Emotions are one of the major parts of our existence. When those emotions are translated as a skill, then it becomes another tool to manipulate someone to do what you want them to do. So it could be used wrongly, could create harms for others or just purely for personal gains.
2. “It prevents people from using their critical thinking skills”. You may disagree but this is an interesting thought. When someone knows how to convey and use their emotion, they can get others to relate to them easily. When these emotions are presented strategically into a meeting, presentation, speech, the ones who are exposing to these expressed emotions begin to get emotional themselves. Therefore, critical thinking is hindered to some extent. For example, you may know/know of some very influential people. Sometimes, what they say may not be correct but whenever they say it, it always sounds convincing and agreeable. Or an employee can be great at his job selling thanks to his great EI but may not have great ideas contributing to the company’s strategies/tactics and he can also “sell” his boss into those not-so-great ideas. So, it could work both ways.
3. “Emotional intelligence is good for simple emotions but it doesn’t get at the complex dynamics that play out in a workplace, where you’re in multilateral relationships”-Dinesh Sharma-Psychologist, Fordham University. The ways people feel and convey their emotions differ greatly between individuals. Especially during globalization, when you add race, ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, social mores, and other factors in the mix, all of this make things a lot more complicated.