The rules in the workplace have changed. Increasingly, employers are looking for individuals with high levels of emotional intelligence (EI) skills; qualifications are no longer enough. They desire team members who know how to handle themselves and others, as well as possess other qualities such as empathy, persuasiveness and the ability to adapt.
Sometimes considered ‘soft skills’, job candidates with superb listening skills and strong communication abilities have become highly sought after - particularly for those seeking leadership positions. A high level of EI helps build strong relationships, reduce stress levels, defuse conflict and improve job productivity and satisfaction.
With employee well-being high on the agenda, emotional intelligence is more important than ever. Research has shown that success in life or work is only 20% dependent on your IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and 80% dependent on your Emotional Quotient (EQ). Whilst our intellect helps resolve problems, high levels of Emotional Intelligence enable us to deal with people and problems more effectively.
In his defining work on Emotional Intelligence, bestselling author Daniel Goleman found that emotional intelligence is twice as important as other competencies in determining outstanding leadership.
IQ becomes fixed at around 17 years of age, whilst your EQ/emotional intelligence is never fixed and rises steadily with age. The more you become aware of it and work on it, the better it becomes; it is those who focus on their EI and improve it that will succeed in their career path.
Explore our course, Mastering your Emotional Intelligence, tutored by Jill Clark. Next date: 28 June 2024