Emotional intelligence involves recognizing and understanding one's own emotions and the emotions of others in order to manage behavior and relationships. It has four key areas: self-awareness involving accurately assessing oneself; self-management including emotional control and adaptability; social awareness such as empathy and organizational awareness; and relationship management like inspirational leadership and managing conflicts. Developing emotional intelligence requires self-reflection through activities like keeping a feelings journal, getting feedback from others, learning to identify emotional triggers, and practicing empathy in conversations.