Emotional intelligence is increasingly recognised as a core competency in employability, workplace resilience, and social inclusion. Yet in adult education settings — particularly among vulnerable learners — emotional intelligence is often treated as an abstract concept rather than a structured skill that can be developed.

Daniel Goleman’s framework on Emotional Intelligence identifies five core domains:

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-regulation
3. Motivation
4. Empathy
5. Social skills

These competencies are directly linked to employability outcomes, teamwork effectiveness, and stress management.

The Role of Metacognition

Metacognition — “thinking about thinking” — is central to emotional development. When learners can observe and analyse their own emotional processes, they are better able to regulate behaviour.

Visual tools support metacognitive awareness by making internal processes visible.

Instead of asking:
“How did you feel?”

Educators using SkillVista methods might ask learners to:

• Map emotional escalation visually
• Draw an emotional intensity scale
• Identify trigger → reaction → consequence sequences
• Use symbolic metaphors to represent stress

This externalisation transforms emotions from abstract feelings into observable patterns.

Within the Visual Methodology Mastery Kit, emotional intelligence modules include structured exercises, you can also try these:

1. Emotional Thermometer Exercise

Learners draw a scale from 1 to 10 representing emotional intensity in a recent challenging situation.

They identify:

• Physical reactions
• Thoughts
• Behavioural responses

This visual mapping encourages awareness of escalation thresholds and regulation opportunities.

2. Trigger-Response Flowchart

A visual sequence is created:

Trigger → Emotion → Thought → Behaviour → Outcome

Learners analyse how alternative thoughts might alter behavioural outcomes.

This aligns with cognitive-behavioural principles and strengthens self-regulation.

3. Empathy Mapping

Learners visualise another person’s perspective by dividing a page into sections:

What they might think
What they might feel
What they might say
What they might need

This exercise builds perspective-taking capacity — a key component of emotional intelligence and workplace collaboration.

Integration with Scenario-Based Learning

The SkillsVista digital platform further reinforces emotional intelligence through scenario-based simulations.

Learners encounter realistic situations such as:

• Workplace conflict

• Miscommunication in public space

• Social boundary violations

After choosing a response, learners receive guided feedback and are invited to reflect visually on their emotional reaction patterns.

Emotional intelligence is increasingly valued by employers and policy frameworks emphasising resilience and adaptability. The European Skills Agenda recognises transversal skills as essential for labour market participation.

SkillVista demonstrates that visual thinking methodologies can serve as practical bridges between emotional theory and behavioural application.

Recommendations for Educators

To integrate visual emotional intelligence practices:

• Replace abstract discussion with structured diagrams
• Encourage drawing emotional pathways
• Use symbolic representations for stress and coping
• Integrate reflection after real-life or simulated scenarios
• Facilitate peer discussions around visual outputs