Why Emotional Intelligence EQ is Critical for Leaders

Emotional Intelligence EQ is a way of recognizing, understanding, and choosing how we think, feel, and act. It shapes our interactions with others and our understanding of ourselves. It defines how and what we learn; it allows us to set priorities; it determines the majority of our daily actions. Research suggests it is responsible for as much as 80% of the “success” in our lives.

Emotional intelligence EQ is the ability to perceive our emotions, to access and generate emotions to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions to promote emotional and intellectual growth (Mayer & Salovey 1997)

The EI assessment that I use with my clients, their staff, and job applicants measures:

Self-Recognition – The self-recognition quotient reflects intrapersonal communications. It indicates self-awareness and understanding. Factors in this area include self-understanding, personal acceptance, and overall knowledge of individual psychology.

Social Recognition – This scale reflects awareness and consideration of the feelings and responses of others. The ability to empathize and maintain sensitivity to the moods of others allows for superior intuition and connection.

Self-Management – This quotient indicates self-evaluation coupled with self-regulation. The awareness and discipline to control and harness feelings directly impact the ability to achieve personal objectives and develop inner resolution.

Social Management – Social/Relationship management includes interpersonal skills and focuses intelligence on generating results. This social intelligence fosters collaboration and connection to tap the power of synergy.

Hopefully, you now better understand what emotional intelligence EQ is. Now, it is essential to know why EI is critical for leaders. Here is what the experts say:

Why Emotional Intelligence EQ is Critical for Leaders

“In the fields I have studied, emotional intelligence is much more powerful than IQ in determining who emerges as a leader. IQ is a threshold competence. You need it, but it doesn’t make you a star. Emotional intelligence can.” Warren Bennis

“75% of careers are derailed for reasons related to emotional competencies, including the inability to handle interpersonal problems; unsatisfactory team leadership during times of difficulty or conflict; or inability to adapt to change or elicit trust.” The Center for Creative Leadership

“What are the top issues you face at work? Leaders identified that 76% are on the people/relationship side and only 24% on the finance/technical side. Among these 135 respondents, 89% identify EI as essential to meeting their organization’s top challenges.” Joshua M. Freedman

“Business leaders who maintain that emotions are best kept out of the work environment do so at their organization’s peril.” Daniel Goldman

If you want to learn more about the assessments I can provide and interpret for your company, please get in touch with me by clicking here.

Coach Dave