There are many definitions of emotional intelligence (EI), once referred to as emotional quotient (EQ), but in the simplest terms, it is our ability to recognize and regulate our emotions, as well as recognize and interpret the emotions of others and use this information to inform our actions. David Ryback (1998) defined emotional intelligence quite concisely as “the ability to use your awareness and sensitivity to discern the feelings underlying interpersonal communication, and to resist the temptation to respond impulsively and thoughtlessly, but instead act from receptivity, authenticity and candor” (p. 53). Emotional intelligence is the human experience aspect of intelligence that is viewed as likely much more important than the much less controversial intelligence quotient (IQ).
How Is EI Different From IQ?
The concept of IQ is relatively familiar to most, and has existed longer than the concept of EI . It is a measure of a person’s aptitude, or ability to think, reason and analyze. IQ is a numerical representation of an individual’s intellect as it pertains to obtaining, managing and using knowledge. How it is measured, how much it relates to “smartness” within an individual and whether it is entirely inherited or can be increased, are all sources of debate among psychologists (Gondal & Husain, 2013).
It can be noted however, extensive research has demonstrated that a high IQ is not the sole predictor for success across domains. “The brightest among us can founder on the shoals of unbridled passions and unruly impulses; people with high IQ can be stunningly poor pilots of their personal lives” (Goleman, 1995, p.34). Emotional intelligence is what allows us to recognize emotions in ourselves and others, assess and manage these emotions and inform our actions and responses. EI is what allows high quality social relationships, targeted approaches to situations and it cannot be represented as a numerical comparative standard, as IQ can (Gondal & Husain, 2013). Emotional Intelligence encompasses the attributes some refer to as the “soft skills.”
When discussing the increase in computer usage across job roles, Daniel Goleman (1998) noted, “people desperately feel the need for connection, for empathy, for open communication” (p.6) and in a post pandemic world, these words continue to be true, perhaps even more so. While this statement was brought out of a conversation of why job satisfaction was changing with the use of computers, it concisely sums up the reason that EI can often usurp the role of IQ as a predictor of workplace potential, and why teams with high EI, are often more productive. There is more to the human experience than IQ can measure, and a key difference is that EI can be learned and developed, increasing with new knowledge and skills, while IQ is believed to be inherited and difficult to change.