Is Emotional Intelligence (EI) just as important as IQ in the Workplace?

So just what is emotional intelligence? With the risk of oversimplifying,

emotional intelligence is the dimension of intelligence responsible for our

ability to manage ourselves and our relationships with others. Included

are skills that drive our internal world as well as our response to the

external world. There are five components of emotional intelligence.

They include: a well-honed timing for emotional expression and

emotional control; empathy for others; social expertise that allows us to

develop strong working relationships; personal influence that helps us

advance our purpose with others; and an integrity that aligns us with our

life's purpose.

Each day in the workplace, an employee's emotional intelligence is put to

the test. Most often, how an employee reacts to situations will build

goodwill and co-operation with customers and colleagues or will further

drive wedges into tenuous relationships. When an employee can master

appropriate internal emotional reactions to situations and also master his

external response, the employee is working with a high level of emotional

intelligence. Too often, feelings of self-doubt, frustration or anger will

take over and control a person's outward expression in a particular

situation. How many times have you heard a person say, "I just couldn't

help it, I was just so frustrated I had to react the way I did?"

As an employer, it's important that you recognize that those reactions can

also paralyze the work that gets done. Underlying tensions and emotions

make their way to every meeting and every encounter in the workplace.

Yes, I know, you have probably been taught that emotion doesn't belong

in the workplace. But the reality is that it's inescapable. Emotion is

present in the workplace - everyday, everywhere. Therefore, as you have

improved your business by way of applying intellectual resources, now is

the time to recognize that you can also make dramatic improvements that

will help you reach your business goals by improving the emotional

intelligence of your workforce. Unlike IQ, which tends to remain fixed

throughout a person's lifetime, emotional intelligence can be improved over time.

If you want to get an understanding of where you are on the scale of EI and

heighten your awareness then this survey is a good starting point: 

http://www.ihhp.com/?page=freeEQquiz