“In other words, what matters is a different way of being smart.”
These words belong to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence (1995), who explained why emotional intelligence or EI is an irreplaceable quality.
We are familiar with the concept of intelligence quotient or IQ. It helps us measure how smart we are; how well we can use reason and logic to solve complex problems. But what about emotional quotient, or EQ?
Today, many organizations rely on EI and EQ to hire motivated, driven and empathetic employees. They’re not just looking for people with good grades. Instead, they focus on skills like empathy, communication and leadership.
Let’s discuss the meaning of EQ, the difference between IQ and EQ and why we need both IQ and EQ for a well-balanced life.
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What Is Emotional Quotient or EQ?
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Difference Between IQ And EQ
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Why You Need Both IQ And EQ
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Critical Thinking With Harappa
What Is Emotional Quotient or EQ?
Daniel Goleman first popularized the term emotional intelligence in his work. Today, it’s recognized as a breakthrough for studies on self-management and social relationships.
Think about the modern workplace. The organizational culture is built on effective communication, open channels of feedback, interdependence, collaboration and teamwork. Engaging with your coworkers and understanding how they feel, their work style and abilities impact your work as well. Emotional intelligence helps us understand our emotions, build self-awareness and interact socially.
The difference between emotional intelligence and emotional quotient is that the latter is a measure of the former. Just like IQ is a measure of intelligence, EQ measures your EI. However, many people use EQ and EI interchangeably. An ongoing debate on IQ vs EQ brings us to our next point, which is the difference between IQ and EQ.
Difference Between IQ And EQ
Intelligence quotient and emotional quotient are two sides of the same coin. Earlier, people used to stress the importance of IQ as the primary measure of someone’s efficiency and effectiveness. But is someone’s ability to solve math problems a measure of how successful they can be? Maybe not.
Here are two key points to highlight the difference between IQ and EQ:
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IQ vs EQ: What Do They Measure?
The big difference between intelligence quotient and emotional quotient is what they measure. Where IQ measures intelligence, reason and logic, EQ measures emotional understanding, empathy and self-awareness. A well-rounded professional should ideally have both IQ and EQ to perform well in their job.
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IQ vs EQ: What Is Their Impact?
Your intelligence quotient can help you solve complex problems and think critically and creatively to come up with new ideas. It gives you the tools needed to tackle challenges and setbacks with quick thinking. Meanwhile, your emotional quotient will help you empathize with your coworkers. It gives you the self-awareness to identify your strengths and weaknesses. (https://cozumelparks.com) EQ is often attributed to leaders and people who motivate others.
The IQ vs EQ argument may persist but what’s best is a balance between the two. In the workplace, critical thinking and empathy are two of the most important qualities for an employee. Let’s discuss why you need IQ and EQ to achieve your goals.
Why You Need Both IQ And EQ
For a professional, what’s important is to build meaningful relationships, master skills to help them do their job well and execute solutions on time. When you’re overwhelmed with your workload, the best thing to do is make an action plan and reach out to your team members. This is where having both IQ and EQ comes in handy. Striking a balance between the two helps you:
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Become a better leader by making equal efforts to understand your team’s strengths and weaknesses, not just for profits but also their well-being
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Listen to others and make informed decisions to achieve organizational goals
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Assess your strengths and weaknesses to choose a successful career path for yourself
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Build self-awareness and manage yourself effectively to do something you’re passionate about and good at
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Nurture your relationships—both personal and professional—by being mindful of yourself and others
A healthy balance between IQ and EQ is what you need to understand yourself and others as well as excel in life. You can work on both these qualities with focus and patience. Contrary to what we might believe, both IQ and EQ can be developed over time.
Critical Thinking With Harappa
Think through things, make informed decisions and understand different perspectives with Harappa’s Thinking Critically course. Not only will you learn how to separate fact from fiction but also how to make insightful observations to understand issues. With frameworks like the Circle of Competence, you’ll be able to identify your areas of expertise and your limitations. Achieve your goals and follow your dreams by working on your qualities. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything you want!
Explore topics such as What is Critical Thinking, List of Cognitive Skills and The Dunning-Kruger Effect from Harappa Diaries to learn more about your IQ and EQ.