The question of nature versus nurture has always been a significant factor in the understanding of success. Though IQ vs EQ has co-efficiency in terms of business success, questions are raised whether one precedes the other, and honing one should be prioritized.
In a business setting, IQ equates to the technical skills of workers, and EQ corresponds to their interpersonal skills. Each aspect has a critical effect on the productivity of a person and can correlate to their promotability.
Significantly, it should be considered that there are workers who possess a significant prowess exhibiting both the ability to show their intelligence and emotional quotient. These workers are more likely to be company assets deemed to have better chances of climbing the ladder with hard work.
IQ or EQ in the workplace: Which should we put first?
Technical skills might come first when we think about being professionals, but our EQ speaks about our abilities to work well with others. These hard skills determine our qualifications for a specific job, but more than what managers look at are our interpersonal skills.
Most often, our EQs become the differentiator and often the sole determiner for getting the position. It is because they are vital attributes determining exceptional performers and the ones likely to succeed and get promoted.
Recent studies found out that EQ is one of the most influential work performance predictors accounting for over 58% of success people gathered in different fields. Businesses who are always dealing with negotiations, bargains, and collaboration gets higher chances of success from people with the strongest emotional quotient.
Success is mainly because of their interpersonal skills and heightened emotional perception. Meaning, they can judge whether prospective clients are in line with what they are offering. People with excellent interpersonal skills can adjust their approaches to make negotiations more favorable.
Honing a better emotional intelligence
The question of IQ vs. EQ is a matter of personal capacity and determining which needs improvements. Although both of these qualities can be intrinsic, they can be honed and enhanced for the better. Some of the most effective ways of improving your emotional intelligence include:
- Self-awareness. Probably one of the most significant determiners to help you understand your EQ level is by getting an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. This would allow you to work on your areas for improvement and find ways to enhance your performance.
- Be proactive. Being proactive is actively involving yourself with the company, so you gain better exposure to showcase your talent. Seeking solutions and providing a personal opinion based on circumstances can be regarded as your interest in the company’s common goals.
- Always show empathy. Showing empathy is one of the determiners of a person’s EQ. Not only do you need to voice out your thoughts, but providing your subordinates and follow workers a level of unspoken understanding works to signify your emotional capacity.
- Be objective. Being objective means leaving out any emotional baggage attached to a specific scenario. By leaving out emotions, you are in a better capacity to make sound decisions.
Promotions are not just better judged with your technical skills but your capacity to do well with others. A more significant way of increasing the possibilities of job advancement is to showcase your emotional intelligence.
