Emotional Intelligence

TM Ian Dmello

Emotional Intelligence—Why it is important

CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise and fired for lack of emotional intelligence. A quote f rom Daniel Goldman Ph.D. an internationally known psychologist. Emotional Quotient (EQ) is the level of our ability to understand other people, what motivates them, and how to work cooperatively with them. Emotional Intelligence (IQ) is different f rom Intelligent Quotient. Intelligence Quotient is an individual's ability for logical reasoning. Researchers hold that people with high EQ are more successful in their careers. There are five significant categories of emotional intelligence skills. Self-Awareness - Understand emotions, and don't let feelings rule thoughts. Don't let emotions get out of control. Self-Regulation – Have the ability to control emotions and impulses. People who self-regulate typically don't allow themselves to become too angry or jealous, and they don't make impulsive, careless decisions. Motivation - Be willing to defer immediate results for long-term success. This results in being highly productive, loving a challenge, and very effective in whatever we do.

Empathy - Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand the wants, needs, and viewpoints of those around us. People with compassion are good at recognizing others' feelings, even when those feelings may not be obvious. Social Skills - Those with strong social skills are typically team players. Rather than focus on their success first, they help others develop and shine.

Examples of Industry Leaders with Emotional Quotient

In 2015 Payscale ranked Amazon 464 out of the Fortune 500 companies in terms of employee turnover. The median tenure was 12 months. The CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos got negative press about callous management practices prevalent in his organization. Bezos has responded by asking his employees to email him at his official email jeff@amazon.com if they came across any cruel management practices. This is an emotionally mature and intelligent response, striking all the right notes to encourage empathy, communication, self-confidence, and more. Today Jeff Bezos is the richest man in the world and Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world, known the world over. Elon Musk has fingers in almost as many pies as Bezos, a man of extraordinary genius and vision. In response to a recent claim that Tesla had incurred 30% more employee injuries than the industry standard, Musk committed to personal accountability in an email to employees. He then asked to be notified directly about every injury, meet with the injured employees personally, then attempt to do their tasks, so he can see what needs to be fixed. This response highlights his emotional quotient of empathy, social skills and self-awareness.

Ultimately, what are the qualities that define successful individuals. In my opinion, a high level of emotional quotient & intelligence quotient with the drive to succeed. However, to be right at the top of the pile, luck and being in the right place at the right time also plays a role.