The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Key Insights
- Emotional Intelligence or Emotional Quotient (EQ) is a social intelligence with which we recognize and process emotions, ultimately allowing us to use emotions intelligently to guide decision making in ourselves and others.
- In 2020, the World Economic Forum reports that emotional intelligence is one of the top fifteen most critical skills for workers and leaders in today’s world.
- While emotional intelligence starts with an awareness and regulation of ourselves, the other half of the picture is how we understand and handle emotions in others, which is very important for leaders
When we talk about intelligence, we often think in terms of knowledge, memory, and creativity. After all, our intelligence has been measured over the years in various academic and work settings, all to do with what we remember, what we know, and our ability to express it.
But there’s another aspect of intelligence out there that is equally important—emotional intelligence. And when it comes to emotional intelligence in the workplace, we as leaders would do well to understand this critical aspect of performance.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence or Emotional Quotient (EQ) is a social intelligence with which we recognize and process emotions, ultimately allowing us to use emotions intelligently to guide decision making in ourselves and others.
