The world is changing rapidly, and with it, of course, the requirements for being successful in the workplace. The World Economic Forum published a list of 10 skills that future employees will have to possess in order to be successful in companies they’re working for. The fact that #6 on the list is Emotional Intelligence speaks volumes about the importance of conquering this skill.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
According to Daniel Goleman, the respected author that popularized the concept of Emotional Intelligence and developed it further, it consists of five core components:
- Self-awareness – the ability to recognize personal emotions and patterns of behavior in various situations
- Self-regulation – the ability to manage personal emotions, and to express them maturely and with control
- Motivation – the ability to drive yourself toward goals through intrinsic motivation
- Empathy – the ability to recognize and understand other peoples’ emotions
- Social Skills – the ability to successfully negotiate, manage relationships and build networks
After Goldman’s fantastic books “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” and “Working With Emotional Intelligence”, it’s quickly recognized that having a high EQ is definitively more important for the success of the company compared to IQ. Thus, many employers look for the five basic traits of highly emotionally intelligent people when hiring, especially when it comes to managerial positions. But why?
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence at Work
To begin with, Daniel Goleman sums it up nicely:
Emotional intelligence does not mean being emotional – letting it all out. Quite the contrary – it means being skillful in the emotional and social realm. With neuroscience finding that emotions are contagious, and that they flow from the more powerful person outward, leaders are on the spot: your emotional state is contagious, for better or for worse.
When it comes to leadership, the success of the project often depends on the attitude and motivation of the individuals who are part of it. And who influences them the most? Yes, their leader. So, if the leader/manager have developed EQ skills, he will know how to motivate his team and pull out the best from them AND from himself/herself.
EQ is highly desirable even among non-leadership roles. Emotionally intelligent people are able to communicate and cooperate effectively with others, solve conflicts and manage their own stress successfully. Overall, high EQ employees are contributing greatly to the positive working environment. Who doesn’t want that?
To learn more about emotional intelligence at work, click here.
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