You can train your emotional intelligence (EQ). It is important in both our personal and work lives. People with high EQ build stronger relationships, make better decisions, and handle stress more effectively.
They also tend to perform better at work and advance faster. Today, experts widely recognize emotional intelligence as a skill that anyone can learn and improve with practice.
Many learning platforms now offer courses specifically designed to boost EQ. In this article, you will learn what emotional intelligence is, discover 5 excellent courses you can try, and find practical ways to enhance your emotional intelligence skills.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions while also effectively responding to the feelings of others.
It forms the foundation of our social interactions and decision-making processes. To know more, read Mental Health vs Emotional Health to understand clearly.
There are four components of emotional intelligence:
- Self-awareness: The ability to recognize your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behavior.
- Self-management: The skill of controlling impulsive feelings and behaviors and adapting to changing circumstances.
- Social awareness: Understanding the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people around you.
- Relationship management: The ability to develop and maintain good relationships and communicate clearly.
These components work together to help us navigate social complexities, lead and motivate others, and excel in both personal and professional settings. Unlike IQ, which remains relatively stable throughout life, emotional intelligence can improve with focused attention and practice.
Is It Possible to Train Your Emotional Intelligence?
It is possible to train your emotional intelligence with daily practice and learning. When you repeatedly practice emotional skills, your brain creates new neural pathways.
Many successful leaders actively work on their emotional intelligence through coaching, courses, and daily practice. You, too, can enhance your EQ at any age by learning specific techniques and consistently applying them in your daily interactions.
Top 5 Online Courses to Train Your Emotional Intelligence
To improve your emotional intelligence, try courses like UC Davis’s ‘Emotional and Social Intelligence’ on Coursera or Harvard’s leadership-focused program. Besides these courses, you can also explore the best Mindvalley courses to improve emotional and physical well-being.
Here are five top-rated emotional intelligence courses you can enroll in today:
| Course Name | Offered On |
|---|---|
| Emotional and Social Intelligence | Coursera (University of California, Davis) |
| Emotional Intelligence: Master Anxiety, Fear, & Emotions | Udemy |
| Develop Your Emotional Intelligence | Alison |
| Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Training Program | Harvard Division of Continuing Education |
| Emotional Intelligence: Cultivating Immensely Human Interactions | Masterclass via. Coursera |
Let’s look at what each course offers and how it can help you develop different aspects of emotional intelligence.
1. Emotional And Social Intelligence
This course is offered by the University of California, Davis, on Coursera. It is a beginner-level course that takes approximately 12 hours to complete.
It consists of four modules that teach how emotions influence performance, relationships, and decision-making. Laurie Cozart instructs the course, which helps assess one’s current emotional intelligence skills and explains the Foundational four Quadrants of ESI.
Students learn to understand, use, and manage emotions while building professional relationships. The curriculum includes how stress impacts the application of emotional intelligence. The course can be audited for free or taken with certification through Coursera Plus.
Investing in the right course can make a big difference in how effectively you develop emotional intelligence. If you’re looking for high-quality, affordable options, this summer discount on Coursera Plus gives you access to a wide range of emotional intelligence and personal development courses. Taking advantage of such offers can help you grow faster without stretching your budget.
2. Emotional Intelligence: Master Anxiety, Fear, & Emotions
This bestseller Udemy course was created by Joeel & Natalie Rivera and updated in March 2025. The premium course focuses specifically on recognizing and overcoming negative emotions like anxiety and fear.
The curriculum includes emotional intelligence tools for identifying emotions, directing thoughts, reframing perspectives, and stress reduction techniques. Students learn NLP methods to rewire emotional reactions and develop self-confidence.
This course is available through a subscription model starting at $20/ month only. The platform offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if the course doesn’t meet your needs. Over 88,000 learners have enrolled, and instructors have taught over 800,000 students worldwide.
3. Develop Your Emotional Intelligence
This free CPD-accredited course on the Alison platform takes 3-4 hours to complete. It is published by Ei4Change and led by emotional intelligence expert coach Robin Hills.
This course teaches how to understand and improve emotional intelligence for better relationships and decision-making. The curriculum covers emotional and social competencies, explaining what emotional intelligence is, how to enhance it, and how basic human emotions work.
The course includes modules on an introduction to emotional intelligence, emotions, and emotional intelligence models. Skills taught include business communication, personal development, mindfulness, and productivity. Upon completion, a certificate is available.
4. Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Training Program
Harvard Division of Continuing Education offers this intensive two-day on-campus program for $3,100, scheduled for July 28-29, 2025. It is taught by Margaret Andrews and designed for mid-level managers to expand their leadership capacity.
The program includes a 360-degree emotional intelligence assessment requiring feedback from at least three colleagues. It covers building trust, managing difficult decisions, enhancing team performance, and leading for long-term success.
You can learn the importance of emotional intelligence for leadership, improve relationships, manage difficult discussions, and build resilience. Online options are available for $2,850. The registration deadline is July 20, 2025.
5. Emotional Intelligence: Cultivating Immensely Human Interactions
University of Michigan offers this 20-hour course through Coursera, taught by Professors Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks and Cheri Alexander. The four-week course covers Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Social Acceleration.
Through theory, assessments, animated vignettes, and video clips, participants analyze their own and others’ behaviors. The course is available as a free audit and a paid certificate.
It explores empathy, perspective-taking, and understanding both individual and collective emotions. Week four focuses on teamwork, leadership, and building transformative mentoring relationships. The course is available in multiple languages, including English, Arabic, French, and many others.
How To Select The Right Emotional Intelligence Course?
Choosing the right emotional intelligence course depends on your goals and learning preferences. Like choosing mental health movies for inspiration, selecting the right EI course requires careful consideration.
- Identify your specific goals: Determine if you need general EI skills or specific applications, such as leadership or anxiety management.
- Consider your schedule: Choose between intensive programs like Harvard’s or self-paced options that fit your time constraints.
- Evaluate the format: Decide if you learn better through videos, interactive exercises, or practice with real scenarios.
- Check instructor qualifications: Look for courses taught by recognized experts with solid credentials in emotional intelligence.
- Review the assessment methods: Select courses that offer practical tools to measure your progress and growth.
- Examine the curriculum: Ensure the course covers all four components of emotional intelligence for comprehensive learning.
- Budget considerations: Compare free options like Alison against premium courses with more personalized feedback.
Practical Ways to Enhance Emotional Intelligence Skills
Building emotional intelligence happens through daily practice, not just coursework. These practical techniques will help reinforce what you learn in courses and create lasting change in how you understand and manage emotions.
- Regular meditation increases awareness of your emotional states.
- Track feelings daily to recognize patterns and triggers.
- Request honest input from trusted colleagues and friends.
- Focus on understanding others without planning responses.
- Reading fiction storybooks develops empathy by experiencing different perspectives.
- Count to ten when emotions run high.
- Thankfulness builds positive emotional connections with others.
Conclusion: Train Your Emotional Intelligence With The 5 Best Courses
Emotional intelligence transforms both personal relationships and professional success. The 5 courses highlighted in the article help to develop EI skills.
From UC Davis’s foundational program to Harvard’s leadership focus and Udemy’s anxiety management techniques, consistent practice remains the key to improvement, whether you prefer the free self-paced learning on Alison or the structured academic approach from the University of Michigan.
Your EQ journey involves both structured learning and daily skill application. Enroll in one of these courses to start enhancing your emotional intelligence, then practice the techniques in your daily interactions.
FAQs
How long does it take to improve emotional intelligence?
Meaningful improvement typically takes 3-6 months of consistent practice, though you’ll notice small changes within weeks of applying new techniques.
Do employers value emotional intelligence certificates?
Many employers recognize EI certificates as valuable credentials that showcase commitment to professional development and interpersonal effectiveness.
Which emotional intelligence skill is hardest to develop?
Self-awareness often proves most challenging because it requires honest self-reflection and a willingness to acknowledge personal emotional patterns and triggers.
Can children learn emotional intelligence?
Children naturally develop EI through guided experiences. Age-appropriate activities help them identify feelings and build empathy from early childhood onward.
Is emotional intelligence more important than technical skills?
Technical skills get you hired, but emotional intelligence often determines career advancement and leadership potential in most professional environments.
