The Top 5 Emotional Intelligence FAQs
Thank you for your interest in Emotional Intelligence!
Subscribe to the Tune up your EQ article feed
As you seek to improve your understanding of this powerful master competence, you will probably have a number of questions. Here are the top 5 questions that people regularly ask me. I hope you find my answers useful. I hope that they will prompt you to ask even more!
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 1996 study of executives by the Center For Creative Leadership showed that 75% of the reasons why careers are derailed can be traced to weaknesses in Emotional Intelligence.The three primary causes of career failure are poor interpersonal skills, not being a good player and difficulties in handling change.
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?
No, it is not. You can increase your Emotional Intelligence through practice and learning. Get your no-cost Tune Up Your Emotional Intelligence Workbook™ and accelerate towards your goals.
Question 5: How Can I Improve My EQ?
There are several things that you can do. For example, you should keep a journal or diary to record and reflect on your experiences. This process of reflection and recording can boost your self awareness>.
You should also actively invite feedback on your behaviour from people you trust. Their honest observations can help you to identify and act on any blind spots that may have caused you difficulty in the past.
You can also work with a coach to set goals for improving your Emotional Intelligence and receive ongoing support as you progress.
Improving your Emotional Intelligence is a very rewarding and process that requires patience and practice. If you invest in yourself you can transform your career and your quality of life.
Make your EQ work for you
This article is the first of my Emotional Intelligence 101 Series. The series explains the fundamentals of EQ. If you found this helpful, you’ll probably enjoy the resources listed below.
More Emotional Intelligence 101 Resources
Galba Bright’s 7 Laws of Emotional Intelligence
Click on the links to read more about each of the Laws.
Law #1: I am responsible for my own feelings.
Law #2: I am responsible for my own behaviour
Law #3: I always have choices about how I respond to situations, events and people.
Law #4: No-one can make me upset, angry, happy etc.
Law #5: Identifying my choices empowers me to take fresh look at my behaviour.
Law # 6: Recognising my range of choices is an excellent way to start changing my behaviour for the better.
Law# 7: I can practice and learn new and more effective behaviours.
4 More Emotional Intelligence 101 Tools To Help You Achieve Your Career Goals
Tool #1 Why a High IQ Can Be Bad For Your Health.
Tool #2 The Top Emotional Intelligence Mistake In Business.
Tool #3 Update To The Top Emotional Intelligence Mistake In Business.
Tool #4 Thriving On Change: 10 Emotional Intelligence Insights.
4 More Emotional Intelligence 101 Tools To Help You Achieve Improve Your Quality of Life
Tool #1 5 Great EQ Payoffs.
Tool #2 Emotional Intelligence In 3 Simple Phrases.
Tool #3 Do You Act With Initiative?.
Tool #4 5 Little Known Ways To Increase Your Emotional Intelligence.
Tune Up Your EQ and enjoy your Emotional Intelligence Journey! Join us over at the Tune Up Your EQ blog , post your comments, ask more EQ questions and keep on learning!
About This Blog. Company Profile.
Galba Bright..My Emotional Intelligence Story..
Popularity: 11% [?]
Every week, I write 3 original articles that help you improve your Emotional Intelligence. If you're new here, feel free to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!