IQ v. EQ
We all know about IQ. IQ stands for “intelligence quotient” and it is basically a measure of academic intelligence. IQ is determined by your performance on standardised tests with a variety of different tasks.
IQ is very important if you’re going to college, but what about in life generally? Emotional intelligence, which is also called emotional quotient (EQ), is your ability to perceive, understand and regular emotions. It is, therefore, the foundation of all people skills or “soft skills.”
Finally, EI can be learned and IQ cannot. Through skills and training, you can improve your emotional intelligence, and this is why it’s now playing a key role in business management.
Success in Life
High IQ is no guarantee of success in life. Rather, studies have shown that people with 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 with a high emotional intelligence, you’re more self-aware and more in control of your emotions. You’re also more empathetic and positive. These are factors that have a greater impact on success than academic intelligence or hard skills.
Emotions drive people. High emotional intelligence is linked with high motivation. People with high EI have a drive that goes beyond the desire for money or title. Their inner motivation pushes them toward achieving their goals.
EI for the Future
One of the reasons why EI research is on the rise today is that it seems to have more relevance to the changing modern business world. IQ helps with innovation and that’s important. But IQ can’t solve the major problems the world faces today. In fact, people are more stressed, lonely and isolated today, in this high-tech world that IQ has given us. IQ also doesn’t help us connect with others, build strong relationships,
IQ is far from useless. It helps in many different situations with logic, problem-solving, creativity and learning new things. But without a strong foundation of EI first, it’s impossible for us to realise all that our IQ can.
Improving your emotional intelligence can make a major difference in your life both professionally and personally by teaching you more about your own emotions and those of the people around you.