Emotional quotient (aka emotional intelligence) vs intelligence quotient is becoming more popular in the workplace these days. You can add emotional intelligence as a skill on LinkedIn and some are adding the verbiage to resumes as well.
What is EQ? Emotional intelligence refers to your emotional fitness. It is a measure of your interpersonal and communication skills. EQ also is connected to self-awareness.
If you understand yourself and are hyperaware of how you react to situations, you will be more equipped to respond intelligently and calmly.
Why does EQ Matter More Than IQ?
The distinct difference between EQ and IQ is that your EQ has the ability to increase dramatically. You can grow your emotional intelligence, and there is a way to deal with the emotions we have and deliver our intelligence in a healthy way.
IQ is a measure of your intelligence, how you process information, and how quickly you learn. Although there are many different opinions from scientists about the increase or decrease of a person’s IQ during their lifetime, for the most part, IQ, in terms of cognitive skills, peak at age 19 or 20, and memory skills peak in someone’s 30’s or 40’s.
The ability for you to learn does not have a drastic change, whereas an increase in EQ can completely change one’s demeanor.
Is EQ better than IQ?
We wouldn’t say EQ is better than IQ, in the fact that it is very different, but there is a high possibility that you would prefer to be around an individual that has a higher EQ skill.
When you are emotionally intelligent, you have the ability to think before you react. Emotions are a biological reaction, therefore we feel emotions before logic and reasoning set in.
Everything you are stimulated with – touch, hearing, smell, taste, and sight – travel to your brain via electric current. Once this passes through your brain stem and into the limbic system of the brain, you will feel emotion.
Once you feel these emotions, STOP! The feelings you feel HAVE NOT had a chance to move past the limbic system in your brain and reach the frontal cortex.
Why is this important??? Logic and reasoning comes from your frontal cortex. If you feel an emotion and respond irrationally, it’s because you did not wait for your brain to fully process the information.
How do You Grow EQ?
Emotional intelligence is tied directly to self-awareness. How well do you fully understand yourself? If you respond abnormally to a scenario, do you have the ability to reflect and understand what your trigger was and why a particular behavior presented itself?
Emotional intelligence is a learned behavior. It allows you to have better social skills and interact with others more positively at work and in your personal life.
If you want to increase your EQ there are four main areas of focus:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Social Awareness
- Relationship Management
We highly recommend picking up the book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves. The book comes with an online test that tells you your current EQ and encourages you to retest once you apply the principles taught in the book (make sure the book purchased has the access code to the test).
Does EQ Improve the Quality of Your Life?
If you want to be a better leader, become more successful, have better social skills, and build better relationships with people, then you need to improve your EQ skills.
Improving the quality of your life starts with stepping out of the comfort zone and improving yourself. Self-understanding is one of the best gifts you could possibly give to yourself.
If you want more out of life, then you must become more. Self-development allows you the ability to increase your value by developing the skills necessary to achieve the next level.
How are you going to increase your EQ?
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