How your EQ can fast track your career

If you’re into self-development then you know how developing your EQ can improve the quality of your relationships. But have you ever considered how it could help advance your career? »

What Is EQ? Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others. To break it down, emotional intelligence (or emotional quotient, as it’s sometimes known) is our level of ability to practise selfawareness, recognise and understand our emotions and reactions.

Self-regulation

Manage, control and adapt our emotions, mood, reactions and responses.

emotional awareness

Awareness of our emotions, which motivates you to take action, commit, follow-through and work toward the achievement of our goals.

empathy

The ability to discern the feelings of others, understand their emotions, and utilise that understanding to relate more effectively.

Social Skills

Build relationships, lead, negotiate conflict and work as part of a team.

Unpacking the IQ vs EQ debate

The field of EQ has had a massive impact on the way we think about ourselves, the world and our ability to succeed in life. It’s easier for people to assume that success in life relates to IQ – smarter individuals are bound to triumph over those less intelligent. But this isn’t so. It’s possible for a person with an average IQ to be more successful than a genius, but only if the person in question has a higher level of emotional intelligence. Your IQ will get you through school and university, but your EQ will get you through life.

As adults, we need good EQ skills to deal with life’s stressors. Good EQ skills have been found to be the most important skills a leader can have to be successful. Many experts will go as far as to say that a person’s EQ may be more important than their IQ, and is a better predictor of success, quality of relationships and overall happiness. This has been proven time and time again and is essential in a world where mental illness is rising. As mental health issues and life’s demands rise, it’s become more important to have the awareness of one’s emotional space to put measures in place to safeguard ourselves.

can I list EQ as a skill on my cv?

When creating a bio, express why you consider yourself to be an emotionally intelligent person, and if you’ve completed any courses or have any qualifications that may be essential. However, as this is only a perception of yourself, you may need to add references that can vouch for your skills.

Why Is It Important for

Employers to hire someone With a high EQ?

Higher EQS equals a happier workforce and lower staff turnover. If people can be real with themselves and their emotions, and can take responsibility for their own actions, there will be fewer blow outs and breakdowns, and better working relationships between employees.

We all have emotions we carry around; positive or negative, from childhood, at home, our relationships.

But if we seek to understand others by displaying empathy and getting to know them and their situation, we can further understand their motivations and why they react or respond in certain ways.

how Will EQ help me manage

Work pressure and deal

With difficult clients?

You’ll be more self-aware and cognisant of other’s emotional space, and that means you’ll be less stressed and able to manage yourself and respective people better. How? Your communication skills will improve as you’re able to empathise and understand how their “own stuff ” shouldn’t be taken personally.

By being in tune with ourselves, we can come to value ourselves more and identify what areas need fine tuning.

how Will EQ give me the Edge over co-workers Who haven’t developed theirs?

The benefits are endless. By being more empathetic and understanding of others, we create a connection with them, and this is the easiest way to motivate colleagues. Balance in the core areas of empathy, active listening and being emotionally aware of one’s own state of equilibrium will help you identify with people in the workplace, anticipate their needs and lead with a greater range of emotional capacity. Which, in turn, improves your negotiation skills, makes you more resilient to change and gives you more job satisfaction.

with the growth of technology, can a Higher eq make me Indispensable?

As technology drives us further away from creating more personal connections with people, having a high EQ can prove essential in the job market. The more disconnected we feel, the more alienated and alone we become. This is obviously not great for anyone’s state of mind. The most important element, however, is that relationships and connections create business deals and sales. If you can relate to people and understand them, you’ll know how to connect with them – an element that technology can’t replace.

‘IQ will get you through school and university, but EQ gets you through life’

How will eq Help me keep track of my career goals and stay focused? Different studies have shown that a high level of emotional intelligence helps us to achieve and maintain our goals more effectively. Research on managers and employees in larger companies who were tested on their IQ and EQ levels showed that some successful managers had lower IQS than their employees, but had far higher EQS. This shows that EQ is more important than IQ when working with other people.

If you’re aware of your own emotions and can do consistent self-checks into what you’re feeling regularly, you can put measures in place to put yourself back on track. This can look like many things, whether it be taking time out to recharge or writing your goals and identifying obstacles you faced in the past, and how you interpreted them.

How can eq Help me In business?

EQ has been identified as one of the strongest indicators of success in business. A study by Johnson & Johnson showed that the highest performers in the workforce were also those that displayed a higher emotional intelligence. And according to Talent Smart, an EQ appraisal company, 90% of high performers in the workplace possess a high EQ, while 80% of low performers have a low EQ. Simply put, your emotional intelligence really matters.

How can I develop my eq?

We all come across difficult situations that cause discomfort, stress, sadness and unhappiness. People with a high EQ can handle conflicts better than those with poor intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. To develop your EQ skills, you need to notice emotion while it’s happening and pay attention to the following:

Senses

Emotions are expressed physically and are reflected in your body. For example, certain behaviours like clenched fists or gritted teeth are signals that you’re probably angry.

thoughts and Beliefs

Emotions are expressed as thoughts. It’s normal for certain thought patterns to only be present when you’re upset. For example, when people say, ‘Things will never get better, ever again!’ when they’re upset, but don’t say the opposite when they’re feeling great.

your actions

Emotions change your behaviours. Learn to recognise the way you act while upset. Noticing that you’re suddenly raising your voice or starting to speak over others might be clues you’re upset.

your triggers

Triggers are situations, people, places, feelings, thoughts or objects that get you to think or feel something you wouldn’t otherwise have thought or felt. Triggers can start negative emotions, which lead to you becoming upset without your conscious awareness. Identify your triggers by watching for the things that set you off and then write them down.

focus on your Strengths

Always identify your positive, strong characteristics.