Why Your Emotional Intelligence Is More Important than Your IQ
Why EI is More Important than IQ
It has long been my professional mission to help others reach their highest potential. This isn’t possible if you aren’t maximizing the right “smarts.”
Over the past 20 years, a growing body of evidence has amassed which suggests that emotional intelligence is important for business success than IQ.
EI versus IQ
As we all know, IQ stands for “intelligence quotient” and it’s said to measure academic intelligence. IQ is determined by your performance on standardized tests and basically doesn’t alter throughout your life. IQ is very important if you’re going to school, but what about in life in general?
Emotional intelligence, aka emotional quotient (EQ), is the ability to perceive, understand and regulate emotions. It is, therefore, the foundation of all interpersonal or “soft skills.”
And what makes EI truly different is that it can be learned and IQ cannot. Through training and skills practice, you can improve your emotional intelligence.
Success in Life
To be real here, having a high IQ doesn’t guarantee a successful life. In fact, studies have shown that those with a high EI are more likely to be successful in both their personal and professional lives. The reason is that IQ helps you solve problems, learn things, reason and remember details.
But a high emotional intelligence means you’re more self-aware and in control of your emotions. It also means you are more empathetic and optimistic. These factors have a greater impact on success than academic intelligence or technical (aka hard) skills.
People are driven by emotion. Increased emotional intelligence is linked to high motivation. People with high EI possess a drive that goes beyond the desire for a high profile job title or cash. It’s their inner motivation which propels them to reach their goals.
EI for the Future
One of the reasons why EI research continues on today is that EI seems to have more relevance in the changing modern business world. IQ helps with innovation and that’s important, but it can’t solve the major issues facing the world today.
People are, in fact, more stressed, lonely and isolated now, in this high-tech world that IQ has given us. Unfortunately, a high IQ also doesn’t help you connect with others or ibuild strong relationships.
We’re not saying IQ is useless. It helps in many different situations requiring logic, problem-solving, creativity and learning new things. But without first developing a strong foundation of EI, it’ll be impossible to realize all that our IQ can conceive.
I hope you can see how increasing and enhancing your emotional intelligence can make a major difference in your life both professionally and personally.
What’s your experience been with EI? Can you see how certain leaders both politically and in your organization can benefit from enhancing their EI?
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