Tune up your EQ

It is with deep regret that the family and friends of Galba Bright wish to inform you of Galba’s untimely passing.

Galba Francis Adeyinka Bright, Human Resource Consultant and Author, died at his office on March 31 of natural causes, leaving his wife Sandra, numerous family members, friends, associates, readers and fans.

Out of respect, the Tune up your EQ website created by Galba will therefore be offline for a short period.

We thank you for your understanding at this time and appreciate the interest you have shown in Galba’s work and ideas.

Should you wish to post comments about the personal impact of Galba’s thoughts and writings, please feel free to click here or go to his blog.

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Galba Bright will be held at St. John’s Methodist Church, Montego Bay, Jamaica, at 1.00 pm on Sunday, April 19, followed by interment in Dovecot of St. James Memorial Park, Orange, St. James.

The Top 5 Emotional Intelligence FAQs

May 10th, 2007 by Galba Bright

Darren Rowse’sProBlogger’s Top 5 Group Writing Project invited bloggers to send their favourite Top 5 list. One lucky blogger will win $US 1001. Here’s my Top 5 List.

IQ is dead, long live EQ

There was a time when you needed to have a high IQ to succeed at work.

Not any more.

Businesses are rushing to hire people who have high levels of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) because they make firms more profitable. Read these Top 5 EQ FAQs and equip yourself for career success.

Question 1: What Is EQ?

Answer: Daniel Goleman, the world’s best known writer on Emotional Intelligence defines it as:

“The capacity for recognising our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.”

EQ consists of four main building blocks. The foundation is Self-Awareness, knowing what you are feeling in the moment and using those preferences to guide your decision-making.

Susan is a self aware person. She understands what she is thinking and feeling. Susan has a realistic view of her strengths and weaknesses. She is grateful for her strengths and seeks to make the most of them, yet she’s not paralysed by her weaknesses. She rarely feels victimized by other peoples’ thoughts and opinions.

Self Management, managing your emotions so that they help rather than hinder what you’re doing, is built on your Self-Awareness. Steven often struggles with this. Try as he might, he often automatically rejects constructive feedback that he gets from his friend, Sarah. Deep in his heart, he knows he’d like to respond more positively, because he knows that Sarah cares for him. There is a growing body of brain based research that shows practical ways that Steven can use to improve his Self Management.

Social Awareness, involves sensing what other people are feeling and being able to understand their point of view. Mother Theresa of Calcutta is often referred to as an example of a socially aware person because of her work with poor and destitute people.

Relationship Management defines your effectiveness in guiding, motivating, leading and influencing others. For many people, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is an example of inspirational leadership.

Question 2: What Impact Will My EQ Have On My Career?

Answer: If you have a high EQ, you’re sure to be in high demand because you’ll help companies to become more profitable. For example, the 2007 book “Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose” by Rajendra Sisodia, David Wolfe and Jagdish N. Sheth, showed that the companies that had more emotionally intelligent employees enjoyed greater profitability than those that didn’t. The authors also found that people who raised their EQ were roughly 25% more productive than before.

However, if you EQ is low, you can seriously harm your career. A study of executives by the Center for Creative Leadership in the USA showed that 75% of the reasons why careers were derailed were linked to EQ weaknesses. Poor interpersonal skills, not being a good team player and difficulties in handling change were the three main reasons why people failed to achieve their goals.

Question 3: How Is My EQ Related To My IQ?

Answer: Your IQ, (Intelligence Quotient), describes your intellect. It is measured by tests such as ‘A’ levels and university degrees that measure how well you process numbers and use language.

EQ is about your ability to manage your emotions and to respond effectively to other people.

Question 4: Is My EQ Fixed?

Answer: No, it is not. You can increase your EQ through practice and learning.

Question 5: How Can I Improve My EQ?

Answer: Keep a journal or diary. When you write down your experiences and reflect on them, you boost your self awareness and self management.

Ask trusted friends to give you feedback on your behaviour. They can help you to identify and act on any blind spots that may have caused you difficulty in the past. Take a no-cost or fee-based EQ assessment. There are many assessments available online. Work with a coach to set goals for improving your EQ and get support as you progress.

Your EQ will drive how far you’ll reach in your career. Invest in yourself, improve your EQ and transform your work performance.

Make your EQ work for you

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