What Is Emotional Intelligence?

Don’t shoot the messenger

It’s true, emotions can get us into trouble sometimes. However, that only occurs when we don’t acknowledge, understand, express, or manage them appropriately. For instance, children are encouraged to ignore, devalue, or suppress their emotions, and they aren’t given support to work through their uncomfortable or complex feelings.

Instead, people need to be encouraged to connect with and express their emotions appropriately – hiding from them is counter-productive and unhealthy.

It’s more readily accepted in recent years that many diseases both arise from, and are exacerbated from emotional issues. The word itself is a giveaawy to the truth of this – dis-ease.

EQ V’s IQ

For more than 100 years, IQ was the accepted measure of intelligence, relating to things like verbal reasoning, mathematical ability, and memory. Although it is an incredibly important set of skills, IQ does not relate to our overall understanding of ourselves and our actions. It tells us very little about context, relationships, or the “bigger picture,” because we need to know the value of something before we can measure and manage it. Value, of course, is determined by our emotions – it is all linked.

So while IQ can give you a measurement of some aspects of intellect, true intelligence is actually the balance of thought and emotion, facilitating our ability to adapt to change. Unsurprisingly, organisations are increasingly turning to EQ to test for the skills that matter to them and increase work performance. This follows the overwhelming body of research, which reflects the importance of Emotional Intelligence for high performance.

Q: What are the components of emotional intelligence?

A: Depending on the EQ model used, EQ components vary slightly. The key EQ and Social EQ models are explained below.

Q: Can I really build my emotional intelligence?

A: Yes. Unlike IQ or personality traits, greater emotional awareness and management are possible through learning and practice. You’ll also understand your strengths, vulnerabilities and how to best develop or work with emotions.

Q: Are some people more naturally in touch with and adept at using emotions?

A; Yes, we believe so. Some people seem to be naturally more empathic for instance, whilst others find it difficult or impossible to feel much for anyone or anything. Imagine we’re all on a continuum (a normal distribution curve) with typical spread of high or low EQ skills becoming less prevalent at either ends of the scale. Most people have the ability to build their emotional intelligence, though some people however may find it harder to build certain components.

Q: What is EQ and how is it measured?

A: Great question. EI stands for Emotional Intelligence. Strictly speaking EQ stands for Emotional Quotient. EQ is a statistically created number that helps describe a person or group’s emotional intelligence. It’s based on lots of sample data which collectively forms what’s called a normed population similar to how IQ scores are measured.  Using what’s termed a normally distributed population (displayed graphically as a bell curve), this statistical framework dramatically increases our knowledge of, and practical applications for, emotional intelligence.

For most EQ tests (such as the EQ-i 2.0) , 100 is the average score for all EQ attributes with a standard deviation of 15. 100 is an arbitrary number we assigned to the average within a population. The standard deviation describes the spread of scores within a population.

This norming enables us to reveal lots of useful things about the population, probabilities of having various EQ scores for instance, and enables us to statistically compare, analyse or make predictive statements regarding people’s EQ attributes and their scores. This gives us powerful, reliable and mathematically provable information and results.

For instance, around 67% of people will score between 85 and 115 for an EQ attribute and indeed for overall EQ. This is a spread of 1 standard deviation either side of the mean. And having an EQ (or IQ) score of over 130 (2 standard deviations from the norm) is found in just 2.2% of the population. Statistics is powerful at helping us understand, measure, compare, develop, recruit for and tailor programmes for our clients.  In a nutshell, it helps us to help you, more. You can read a sample EQ profile here.

The terms EI and EQ are now used interchangeably although strictly speaking the former refers to the meaning, the latter its measure.

Q: I notice there are different EQ models and tests. How do I know which ones are right for me?

A: Great question. Fundamentally EQ assessments look at very similar things so your results should be very similar between them. What matters most is their interpretation.
We use two of the best and most comprehensive tests.

We also offer a free, quick and easy emotional intelligence test to give you an initial insight into your EQ, helping you decide if a more detailed assessment is right for you.

If you work with a highly experienced EQ specialist this will be more important to you than what assessment you use. Speak to them and perhaps ask for references to understand how others have been helped.

Q: What are the models of EQ.

A: Broadly there are 3 models of EQ (summarised below).  These EQ models view emotional intelligence from slightly different perspectives though have strong similarities.

The EQ Ability Model

The Mayer-Salovey model is described as the ability to perceive, understand, manage and use emotions to facilitate thinking. This is the foundation of the Ability based model. Mayer-Salovey published their seminal work on emotional intelligence in 1995 and are rightly seen as founding fathers to emotional intelligence work. Their model has four key areas;

• Perceive Emotions
• Use Emotions
• Understand Emotions
• Manage Emotions

The EQ Mixed Model

The Daniel Goleman model sees EQ as an assortment of emotional and social competencies that contribute to managerial performance and leadership.  Daniel Goleman is very much responsible for bringing EQ into the modern vernacular in his best-selling 1996 book: “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ.”

His 5 components of the EQ model are stated as;

• Self-awareness
• Self-regulation
• Motivation
• Empathy &
• Social skills

EQ Trait Model

This model was developed by Konstantinos V. Petrides. The most widely taken trait EQ assessment is the EQ-i 2.0 (originally created by Reuven BarOn as the EQ-i in 1995).  BarOn describes Emotional Intelligence as;

“an array of interrelated emotional and social competencies, skills and behaviours that impact intelligent behaviour.”

The 5 key domains of the EQ-i 2.0 model are;

• Self-Perception
• Self-Expression
• Inter-Personal Relationships
• Decision-Making and
• Stress-Management

The EQ-i 2.0’s 5 categories (composites) each have 3 further detailed sub-composite areas. This is the EQ assessment that EQworks uses to uncover overall EQ abilities. For clarity, throughout this website where we state an EQ test, we usually refer to either the EQ-i 2.0 or the Social EQ assessment, The A.R.T.

What is Social EQ?

Social-Emotional Intelligence is the part of overall emotional intelligence that relates purely to how we relate to others and communicate. And the reason we, at EQworks, separate it out is that it’s so important and a key area of interest and development to most of our clients. Most EQ tests simply don’t have sufficient detail to measure or develop key aspects of social skills so the Advanced Relationship Skills Test does a deep dive into these. This is not only unique, but works beautifully in tandem with overall EQ assessments to reveal an unparalleled view of someone’s or a team’s EQ.

Why don’t most EQ consultancies or emotional intelligence practitioners use social EQ tests?

Most EQ trainers are not Emotional intelligence specialists, focusing exclusively on, and facilitating, EQ skills day in and day out. We are. Having this depth of expertise and using both EQ and social EQ assessments makes a big difference.

What’s a brief history of emotional intelligence?

Charles Darwin first identified the importance of emotional expression for survival. In 1940, the leading American psychologist David Wechsler described the influence of non-intellective factors on intelligent behaviour, arguing that we need to take these into account when talking of intelligence. Howard Gardner introduced the concept of Multiple Intelligences in 1983.

Dr Reuven Baron, the creator of the EQ-i ® EQ measuring tool, coined the acronym EQ (emotional quotient) around 30 years ago. At this time, several leading emotional intelligence specialists, particularly Professors John Mayer and Peter Salovey, were key to developing our current understanding of emotional intelligence. In 1995, Daniel Goleman published his comprehensive work ‘Emotional Intelligence – Why it can matter more than IQ’ which led to greater recognition of EQ and its potential for performance development.

What’s the future of Emotional Intelligence?

That depends very much on people, like you. If we all took a little time to become more emotionally aware & build emotional intelligence skills many things will change, for the better.  The quality of leadership increases will improve.  As EQ increases, we demand more of ourselves, our organisations and of our leaders in ways that serve us all. We see ourselves more as leaders, individually taking responsibility more and being more agile at making things happen.

Our world will become more efficient, healthier, more well-adjusted, with fewer conflicts, greater synergies and collaborations.  Organisations then become more strategically clear and well run. They find the right people for their more clearly defined roles. People will be encouraged to do what they love and ultimately love what they do.

How do I know this? Because this is what our clients already experience and know.

High EQ leaders have higher self-regard so naturally higher self-confidence. They are well-adjusted, approachable people. They understand their strengths, work around their vulnerabilities and work naturally both within and leading teams. They encourage others as they understand how to value them. This inspires and motivates others and naturally brings positive work cultures.  They manage their emotions well so are good at managing stress and resolving conflicts. They are also more adaptable and better at understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of colleagues. EQ are the skills at the core of all these.