Abstract
This article discusses theoretical concepts related to the definition of emotional intelligence in the context of its role in the formation of soft skills in high school students. The importance of developing emotional intelligence is discussed, considering the presence of its key components, soft skills, which need to be cultivated. During the experiment, it was found that at a low level of emotional intelligence among high school students, all its components are directly interconnected with each other and with the abilities that can be applied to soft skills. (emotional awareness; management of their emotions, self-motivation, and empathy). The data obtained indicate that the development of emotional intelligence is a key factor and an important prerequisite for the formation of soft skills in high school students. The regression model shows that individual measures of emotional intelligence (EI) have their influence on the development of soft skills (SS) in high school students. It is recommended to actively work on the development of emotional intelligence and its components in high school students, realizing the need to improve their awareness, practice empathy, improve communication skills, and learning to cope with stress. For this purpose, it is necessary to organize teaching in the form of training on the development of emotional intelligence, with the inclusion of special games, digital tools, the use of various ready-made materials, and recommendations from proficient experts.