Regarding the query of emotional intelligence Vs IQ, there’s no easy way to compare both, given today’s context. But Ironically, they had been compared in the past few decades and used interchangeably, often replacing the other.
But it’s time you took a closer look to see how they both compare. Simply put, this information can enable you to develop a specific skill set over others and, in turn, help boost your career.
Initially, IQ was utilized to determine a person’s intelligence and how intelligent they were overall. But the first IQ tests were developed more to identify those who are mentally challenged and need additional help at school.
Of course, these tests were misused by various parties over time, and soon, the query of Emotional intelligence Vs IQ became a non-sequitur. Since then, these tests had undergone several adaptations and modifications before the modern IQ test was first utilized.
- IQ, what is it all about?
It is hard to imagine that Human Intelligence can be measured in numbers. But that is what Binet tried to do by factoring one’s mental age by a factor of 100. Of course, the obvious question is ‘why should one choose 100’.
But the even more apparent query is why on earth one should assume that they would be able to deduce human intelligence based on mere numbers. Think about it; human intelligence has evolved since the first humanoid fell from the tree and started walking around on two legs.
Now, assume that you invented the flint stone and created “fire,” another essential element, for your community. Now, everyone in your tribe can consume hot food. And after a few hundred thousand years or so, you invented the wheel.
Now, given all the evolutionary development your species has gone through, and the essential inventions discovered en route, can you imagine for a moment that you will be able to decide your species’ intelligence into a matter of binomial numbers? Sounds like a far stretch.
Intelligence, at the outset, is based on various environmental factors, including health, nutrition, capacity to adapt, peer pressure and more. Based on the total of all these factors, you can deduce your intelligence, and even that would be, at best, an educated guess.
- Environmental intelligence, what is it all about?
Environmental intelligence, or EQ, is more about one’s ability to deduce, and analyze one’s emotions, understand them, control the same and even apply these emotions to achieve your objective.
Certain schools of thought consider EQ or emotional intelligence to be the sum total of intelligence. And that when it comes to recruitment, companies and organizations often prefer applicants with a good IQ and healthy EQ.
Various research studies have indicated the importance of EQ and why it matters in a workspace. Emotional intelligence allows you to understand your emotions and review and assert control over them.
For example, if you are an emotional person, then chances are that you will not lose your temper during a boardroom meeting in progress. You will be able to control your temper and get your emotions under control, And that’s become increasingly more apparent to companies to go for candidates with a pleasing EQ.
- Five components of Emotional Intelligence:
When considering emotional intelligence, you must consider internal and external factors.
· Self-awareness:
This is the ability where you become increasingly self-aware of your emotions, how you feel about issues at large, how it makes you feel, and the resultant emotions that come into play.
· Self-regulation:
When it comes to emotions and moods, you are bound to have disruptive ones. And self-regulation is the process by which you can tackle disruptive emotions and moods and ensure that you can think with clarity.
· Motivation:
Emotional intelligence affects your motivation at work. It is your all-consuming drive that can dictate your very approach. And hence, it’s important where the workspace is concerned.
· Social awareness:
This is where you show the propensity to be able to read others accurately. Essentially, apart from understanding your own emotions, you can gauge the emotions of others. This enables you to read them properly, gauge their feelings and even work out how they feel now.
· Social regulation:
Social regulation is more about influencing others, managing relationships through social networking and more.
As you can see, it’s a matter of a toss-up when it comes to the question of EQ Vs IQ. Both are equally essential, and you must be adept at both to succeed in your career.
