Remember when one’s IQ was considered the be-all and end-all predictor of success in life? You may remember being subjected to IQ tests as a child and marveling at Albert Einstein’s purported IQ of 160. What you may not have realized is that you likely had a higher EQ or “emotional quotient” than Einstein.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional quotient or intelligence can be defined as one’s ability to identify and manage his/her own emotions and the emotions of others. Professors Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, considered the leading experts in emotional intelligence research, authored “Emotional Intelligence“, in which they defined emotional intelligence as “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.”
Their model identified these four different levels of emotional intelligence starting with more basic psychological processes and progressing to more advanced processes:
The first step to understand emotions is to perceive them accurately by interpreting nonverbal signals such as body language and facial expressions.
Reasoning with emotions
The next step involves using emotions to promote thinking and cognitive activity. Your emotions help prioritize what you pay attention and react to.
Emotions can have very different meanings and can sometimes be difficult to accurately assess. If you observe angry emotions in another, not only must you identify the emotion but also the reason behind it. For example, if your coworker seems angry, it might mean that the coworker is upset with your work or it could mean the coworker is having personal problems that have nothing to do with you.
The ability to manage emotions effectively is a crucial part of emotional intelligence and, according to Salovey and Mayer, its highest level. Regulating your own emotions and responding appropriately to others’ emotions are both important aspects of emotional management.
Why Leaders Should Develop and Hone Their EQ
One with a high EQ is keenly aware of his/her own emotional state and how to regulate it. A high EQ also enables one to be sensitive to the emotions of others by quickly reading and reacting to them in a socially appropriate and productive way. It’s easy to see why a high EQ is helpful to business leaders and managers.
Yes, a high IQ or “book smarts” is certainly important to a leader. Equally, and some would argue more important, is a leader’s EQ or “street smarts.” Some are born with a high EQ. Others may struggle a bit with those skills. The good news is that a higher EQ can be developed and cultivated by focusing on the following:
- Self-awareness – The ability to recognize an emotion as it happens. Developing self-awareness requires tuning in to your true feelings in an effort to manage them.
- Self-regulation – The ability to alleviate negative emotions such as anger, anxiety or depression. This can be achieved by re-evaluating the situation from a positive viewpoint or disengaging by taking a long walk. Developing self-regulation focuses on improving your self-control, trustworthiness, responsibility for your actions, handling change and open-mindedness.
- Motivation – The ability to set goals and work towards achieving them with an eye towards positivity and excellence.
- Empathy – The ability to understand how others feel by putting yourself in their shoes.
- Social skills – The ability to communicate and interact with others verbally and non-verbally.
A high EQ is beneficial to all your interactions with others, professionally and personally. You will be more persuasive and confident in your ability to lead others, manage conflicts and build solid relationships.
Speak to the Experts at Smart HR for More Information
The experienced HR professionals at Smart HR can help your company develop the leaders it needs to be competitive in today’s business environment. Smart HR has a broad range of management training programs that are designed to improve EQ and other leadership skills necessary for success. Contact them for more information!