This doesn’t mean it’s an emotional free-for-all by any means, but it does mean people are more likely to be aware of their own and others’ emotions and act accordingly. Today we work largely in teams, not isolation, for one thing, and savvy companies are realizing that recognizing emotions can exist lead to healthier environments. And emotional intelligence matters more than it used to because the workplace has changed. These days, however, we are allowing emotions at work and recognizing the benefits of doing so. In reality, emotions have always been in the workplace, but they were to be kept in check, with people pretending not to feel while they were on the clock.
Just because you walk through the door and into an office building does not mean you check your emotions at that door before starting work, although it used to seem that way.
Regardless of which is more important, emotional intelligence plays a decidedly important role at work. When it comes to the workplace, some say emotional intelligence is more beneficial for your career than IQ, although others argue IQ matters more. Those with high emotional intelligence are able to manage their emotions as well as use their emotions to facilitate their thinking and understand the emotions of others. Sometimes called EI (for Emotional Intelligence) or EQ (for Emotional Intelligence Quotient), emotional intelligence is like using emotions to think and enhance our reasoning. People with higher IQs can think abstractly and make mental connections more easily.Įmotional intelligence is very different. Your IQ relates directly to your intellectual abilities, like how well you learn as well as understand and apply information. One’s intelligence quotient (IQ) is a score derived from standardized tests designed to measure intelligence. If emotional intelligence is a type of intelligence, how does it differ from the mental type? In part, by how it’s measured. What is the Difference Between IQ and EQ? The social skills of emotionally intelligent people show they genuinely care for and respect others and they get along well with them. People with empathy and compassion are simply better at connecting with other people. People with high emotional intelligence tend to be highly motivated as well, which makes them more resilient and optimistic. When we’re self-aware, we know our strengths and weaknesses, as well as how we react to situations and people.īecause they are self-aware, emotionally intelligent people can regulate their emotions and keep them in check as necessary. In the book, Goleman lays out five components of emotional intelligence: Five Components of Emotional Intelligence The term was made popular by psychologist Daniel Goleman in his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, in which he redefines what it is to be smart. But put them together as emotional intelligence, and it’s essentially a different way to be smart because it’s “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically” according to the dictionary definition. We tend to think of our emotions and our intelligence as two separate things. If emotional intelligence sounds like an oxymoron to you, that’s understandable.