7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence (Paperback)

by Patrick E. Merlevede (Author), Denis Bridoux (Author), Rudy Vandamme (Author) "We begin this book by defining Emotional Intelligence and explaining the underlying philosophy of the field of neurolinguistics, on which the rest of this book..." (more)
Key Phrases: synchronization categories, perceptual positions, resourceful state, Emotional Intelligence, Second Position, First Position (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This book can help you develop your intellectual and emotional skills. It is practical, sound, and clear. Use it and become happier, more effective human beings."

Product Description
7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence reveals the structuring beneath Emotional Intelligence (EI), utilising its unique framework to combine EI and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) the study of excellence that examines how behaviour is neurologically formulated. 7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence confidently integrates the insights of EI and NLP to promote a greater understanding of how emotions work and how they can be worked upon. This book is driven by one important message, 'Don't just think about it, do it!' A model-based guide packed with powerful NLP exercises and self-assessment techniques, it allows you to generate your own tricks, and to partake in an intensive EQ excellence course that utilises the self-programming practices of NLP. A thoroughly structured, functionally formatted guide to improving your EQ, 7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence serves as a textbook of EI theory, a manual of NLP techniques, and a workbook that systematically leads you through the process of dynamic EQ improvement. It answers the essential EI questions: what do my emotions mean?; how do I manage my emotions?; how can I deal with conflicts in an emotionally intelligent way?; what motivates people and how can I take that into account?; how can I handle situations in the best possible way?; how do I get what I want?

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Crown House Publishing (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1899836500
• ISBN-13: 978-1899836505
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,429 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sorry to disagree with the other reviewers, but..., March 24, 2002

By	koalaroo "koalaroo1964" (Chandler, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

I bought this book instead of the Goleman book because all the reviewers indicated that the Goleman book was lacking in practical advice as to how to apply the theory to achieve results in your life.

Unfortunately, I found 7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence even less useful due to the extremely technical, academic presentation style and the focus on Neuro Linguistic Programming. I didn't realize I was buying an NLP book...I thought this would be primarily a book about emotional intelligence.

Being an engineer, academic or technical presentation styles are usually not a problem for me, but I just found that I didn't want to spend 90% of my time comprehending NLP and only 10% learning about emotional intelligence.

If you are already very familiar with NLP, this book may be what you are looking for. If not, you may be disappointed, as I was.

70 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars understanding how to be come emotionally intelligent, July 6, 2001

By A Customer

Which emotional intelligence book you buy, depends on your needs: Some books merely discuss WHY EQ is important (as Goleman did in 1996) Other books show WHAT is important (for instance Goleman's 2nd book on this subject: "Emotional Intelligence at Work" in 1998) Some books give you TESTS (see Executive EQ with Cooper & Sawaf) Some books are simple , but too basic (give you just some TRICKS)and others are too theoretic (like Bar-on 2000).

All of that is interesting, BUT leaves you wondering, HOW do I really develop my emotional intelligence?

That's why this book is so great: not only does it give a good theoretical introduction, but you learn HOW we live our emotional lives (mostly based on techniques from cognitive science field, and its applications, such as NLP) AND you learn how to use this techniques + you get exercises to start working on it.

Recommended if you want to get a good mix of a intelligent and emotional explanation.

74 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical skills at last..., May 29, 2002

By	Marilyn Melville (Newcastle Australia) - See all my reviews

As a consultant and trainer in Organisational in Emotional Intelligence and an NLP Practitioner I applaud the work of Patrick Merlevede, Bridoux and Vandamme. 7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence has offered me an unparalleled resource in my consulting, training and tools for EQ and Exec. Coaching.

I have read a number of books of late on the burgeoning topic of Emotional Intelligence, which include: The emotionally intelligent workplace (Cherniss and Goleman), Emotional Intelligence at Work (Goleman), Executive EQ (Cooper and Sawaf). In my opinion, these books successfully answer the 2 basic questions- Why EQ and What is EQ? What has not been successfully addressed till now is How-EQ?
After presenting compelling evidence to change, anecdotes that inspire, highly developed and statistically reliable measurements, one is then `left hanging' with no concrete methods of effecting this change. Goleman (Emotional Intelligence at Work) offers no `answers' his later text with Cary Cherniss discusses the `what of EI training' but not how this can be achieved. Developers of the EQ Map, Dr Cooper and Esther Orioli (Q Metrics) have engineered a 21day program to build EQ, one competency at a time (frustratingly slow process that uses the conscious mind and determination to bring about change). I do not doubt the merits of such a program but I find it interesting that we insist on the latest in software and computer technology but are still using outdated systems to utilising the brilliance of the human machine in creating change.

Most recent thinking acknowledges that all human behaviour, learning and change occur at the unconscious level. That is, at the level of the programs we are running, the coding behind the behaviour. To be lasting and effective, change must occur at this level. My own experience of many years counselling and coaching has verified this dictum.

I believe that NLP `the study of excellence' has always had the `answers'. The difficulty has arisen in the somewhat theoretical, academic (and to many) abstract `packaging' of its tools and methodology, which has made it inaccessible to the `many'.

Merlevede has achieved what I have not found in any other single text on EQ or NLP. He presents NLP through the filters of real life experience and personal wisdom to bring the power of these processes to a much wider audience. The authors have provided an easy to follow, concrete and complete program on: Why EQ, What (is) EQ, How EQ and What if EQ (in what other environments can I utilise these skills). At last- the total package-that works!

The book is filled with the powerful tools of NLP laced with practical examples and metaphors that inspire. It acts as reference text for consultants, trainers, coaches, NLP practitioners, leaders, executives and individuals who simply want to be their best and begin to utilise more of their vast and untapped potential.