Copyright © 2013 - 360Solutions, LLC
In his best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence, Daniel
Golman reported that research shows the traditional IQ
test only accounts for 20% of a person’s success in life.
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What accounts for the remaining 80%? Psychologists
have concluded that a portion of the missing factors lie
in Emotional Intelligence. The more aware we are of our
own emotions, the more control we have over them; and
the more we empathize with the emotions of others, the
more emotionally intelligent we become.
Golman defined Emotional Intelligence as a competency
of managing yourself and your relationships with
others, making effective teamwork, leading others, and
forecasting the future. Each of these displays positive
effects in terms of productivity and performance.
Training in Emotional Intelligence is essential for
employees to display organizationally desired emotions.
Emotionally competent people exude self-confidence,
which makes them good leaders and active team
players. They maintain an optimistic outlook on life,
which helps them overcome obstacles. Their ability
to delay gratification and to manage stress, anger,
envy and other negative emotions helps them build
productive relationships and complete tasks.
Emotional Intelligence is not some New Age, touchy-
feely concept. In fact, the United States Air Force saved
three million dollars by using Emotional Intelligence
screening to select recruiters. Those with the most
Emotional Intelligence were three times as effective as
general candidates. The more emotionally competent
recruiters also stayed on the job longer, cutting training
costs. The General Accounting Office reported an
annual savings of $3,000,000 per year on a $10,000
investment in screening.
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Emotional Intelligence is crucial for most roles in
business. But business people have one overriding
question: how does it affect the bottom line? Can
putting employees in touch with their emotions actually
make them more productive?
Daniel
Golman
Author,
Emotional Intelligence