Intrapersonal intelligence

When we communicate with interpersonal intelligence, we facilitate the cultivation of intrapersonal intelligence in others. As illustrated in Figure 15.15, we often have a choice in communicating our dissatisfaction. We can impulsively scream and shout our disappointment or we can attempt a more positive and productive approach. Sometimes, just pausing to think first before reacting can make a big difference. We need to envision how the process of interpersonal communication is reciprocal and mutually supportive of constructive or destructive emotional states. 

Achieving the vision of an injury-free workplace requires awareness and control of our own emotions, as well as the ability to assess, understand, and draw on the influence of other people s emotions. This requires empathic and persuasive communicahon skills (interpersonal intelligence), as well as self-confidence, personal control, self-esteem, and optimism (intrapersonal intelligence) to develop and implement new tools for safety management. 

The diagnostic power of this simple test was shown when these preschoolers were followed up as adolescents (Shoda et al., 1990). Those who put off immediate gratificahon for a bigger but delayed reward demonstrated greater intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligence. They handled stressors and frustration with more confidence, personal control, and optimism. They were more self-reliant, trustworthy, and dependable, and less likely to shy away from social contacts than tiie children who had not waited for two marshmallows at age four. 

I have concluded that all human beings possess at least eight intelligences linguistic and logical-mathematical (the two most prized in school and the ones central to success on standard intelligence tests), musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalist, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. 

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