Emotional Intelligence
What is Emotional Intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence, or known as emotional quotient (EQ) is a human ability to understand, use and manage our own emotions and understand the emotions of people around us.
Daniel Goleman, a science journalist introduced and outlined five main emotional intelligence constructs:
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Self-awareness - Accurate emotional self-awareness, understanding and recognizing one's own emotions.
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Self-regulation - Maintaining positive and appropriate control over emotions, ensuring emotional expression is manageable and not out of control.
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Social skill - The capacity to objectively and accurately assess resources, strengths, weaknesses, and realities in a given environment.
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Empathy - Strong empathetic abilities, being attuned to subtle signals and sensitively understanding the needs, desires, and emotions of others.
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Motivation - The ability to harness emotions to achieve self-motivation and accomplish goals.
Now that we know what Emotional Intelligence is, why do we need it in the tech industry? Isn't IQ more important?
How is EQ different to IQ?
Let's find out the difference between EQ and IQ in the table:
| EQ | IQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Emotional quotient (EQ) is a human ability to understand, use and manage our own emotions and understand the emotions of people around us. | Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a score that indicates a human's intelligence by several standardized tests. |
| Abilities |
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| Who need it? | A team leader, a team player, etc | A scientist, a medical doctor, a lawyer, etc |
| Where do we need it? | In family, in a team, in a company, in collabaration with others, etc. | In a competitive environment, in a challenging environment, etc. |
Why is EQ important?
Let's answer this question. In today's society, characterized by intense competition and challenges, an individual's abilities alone are insufficient to achieve significant goals. Collaboration and teamwork are crucial, especially in the tech industry.
Why?
This can be attributed to Moore's Law, which observes that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. As both integrated circuits and software development continue to rapidly evolve, it becomes nearly impossible for an individual to acquire all the necessary knowledge. Therefore, teamwork becomes essential.
Unlike IQ, which is innate, EQ can be developed and trained. By cultivating our EQ, we become more adept at managing our emotions and better equipped to perceive and understand the emotions of others. This enables us to work together effectively, comprehend others' perspectives, and offer mutual support, ultimately leading to greater success.
02 JULY 2023
