Leveraging Your Emotions: IQ vs EQ

People have two inherent capabilities instilled within us. One is the IQ or Intelligence Quotient; this is one’s cognitive ability. You can comprehend the information and reason logically. It is also one’s ability to memorize, retain and recall information. For the longest time, this was the sole metric on which a person’s abilities were measured. The other is a more abstract concept that is gaining traction of late. Emotional Quotient or EQ is your ability to gauge and deal with your emotions and understanding people around you on an emotional level. This is your ability to perceive and identify emotions, control them, as well as expressing them giving an appropriate reaction to emotional stimuli.

Every person has both qualities but in varying proportions. You may have more or less of one. This is what makes every individual unique. Which among them is more important in the workplace is a long-standing debate. With scientists and researchers commenting that while your IQ may get you through the door, it is your EQ that will ensure a healthy and quality term at the company, helping you create a lasting impact.

Firstly, you can control or deflect moods that disrupt emotions, causing an outburst. This also means thinking things through before acting on them. Taking care of this will make you appear more dependable.

Secondly, what also matters is remembering your Motivation, This involves setting goals and working towards achieving them whilst having a positive attitude. Those with EQ can channelize their emotions and focus on their goals and keep their career in mind, not letting their emotions get the better of them.

Moreover, Empathy is something that also matters how you can step into someone else’s shoes and understand their feelings. Developing empathy can make you the go-to person when your co-workers and seniors come looking for advice. The ability to look at an issue from all angles is an important problem-solving skill to have in the workplace.

Lastly, Social Skills, these are interpersonal skills. This involves collaboration, cooperation, change, and conflict management. This can add value to your relationships in the workplace, developing a network can make your time at the company more fruitful.

Today, more and more companies are understanding the importance of EQ and conducting sensitivity training for their employees. We recommend allowing yourself to be more vulnerable, open up and share your troubles and experiences with others. This can enrich your relationships, in your professional as well as personal life. This in turn creates an empathetic environment, instilling a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and friendship.