My hope was that organizations would start including this range of skills in their training programs - in other words, offer an adult education in social and emotional intelligence.

Goleman is arguing that emotional and social competencies—such as self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and relationship skills—should not be treated as fixed traits or as “soft” add-ons, but as learnable capacities worthy of systematic instruction. By framing this as “adult education,” he implies that workplaces and institutions have a responsibility to cultivate these skills beyond childhood schooling, integrating them into professional development. The quote reflects his broader project of translating psychological research on emotional intelligence into practical programs, suggesting that organizational training should aim not only at technical proficiency but also at the interpersonal and self-management abilities that shape leadership, teamwork, and well-being.