By Murali Murthy
Career Coach, Candian Immigrant, September 28, 2017 —
As a potential candidate, you might look great on paper, but do you have the emotional intelligence it takes to be a great addition to your employer’s team?
How well you do in your career and life is not determined by how high your IQ is, but rather your EQ.
So, what’s the difference between IQ (intelligence quotient) and EQ [emotional quotient]? Traditional measures of intelligence (IQ scores) do not encompass the full range of capabilities a person has, while EQ measures your ability to monitor, express and communicate with emotions in a way that is beneficial to everyone involved.
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Strong EQ for success
While a good IQ may open doors, studies show that it only accounts for 20 per cent of success in life. In the real world, success is strongly influenced by personal qualities such as perseverance, self-control and skill in getting along with others — in other words, a strong EQ.
Most recruiters live by this adage: “Hire for personality; train for skill” and are likely to look for people who possess a high EQ. In fact, many organizations now include EQ tests before hiring employees and others have initiated EQ training programs in the workplace.
Why your EQ matters
Many companies are changing their hiring methods in order to hire people with high EQ. They particularly look for people with the prime EQ qualities of self–awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.
The good news is, unlike IQ, emotional intelligence can be learned and improved with practice. Here are five EQ qualities to master.
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Self-awareness
In order to control your emotions, you must be aware of them. This is where self-awareness comes into play. Those who are self-aware are able to tune into their emotions, which makes them more confident about what they can do and what they have to offer.
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Self-regulation
If you’re not in control of your emotions, you can become combative in the workplace or resistant to change. Those who can control their emotions, however, avoid the temptation to indulge impulses, take responsibility for their own actions, adapt well in the face of change, and are open to new ideas.
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Motivation
Motivated individuals are constantly striving to improve, to meet the next milestone. They are also less likely to get discouraged when faced with setbacks or opposition. Motivated individuals make great sales and marketing professionals, and are often the morale boosters of an organization.
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Empathy
Empathy is the ability to recognize how people feel and how your actions can affect them. Those with empathy are perfect for the service sector, and they also make great mediators and negotiators. Since they can pick up on how others feel, they are in a better position to motivate them.
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Social skills
Social skills are important regardless of what type of career you have. Successful people communicate effectively. Great communicators are needed for conflict management, team management, leadership roles and tasks where co-operation is necessary.
Be a good employee
As you might guess, these five EQ traits can determine how successful you’ll become in the workplace, as well as in your personal relationships as well.
In a world where information is just a click away, emotional intelligence will gain greater significance in the days to come. In the modern workplace, the ideal candidate would have a highly analytical brain, while still carrying the attributes of an emotionally intelligent person. A good employee with high EQ can do wonders for a company, take them to new levels and be a source of sustained growth.
Be that employee!
Indian-born Murali Murthy is an acclaimed public speaker, life coach and best-selling author of the ACE Books — The ACE Principle, The ACE Awakening and The ACE Abundance. He writes the “Career Coach” column for Canadian Immigrant.
