Success thanks to emotional intelligence

Looked at as the essential factor for success, IQ or “intelligence quotient” is now getting some competition from emotional quotient (EQ) or emotional intelligence (EI). Could emotional intelligence now be a better predictor of success than IQ? At any rate, that’s what Dr Daniel Goleman proposes in his book “Emotional Intelligence”. He believes that the ability to manage our emotions is synonymous with success and fulfilment in life.

Emotional Intelligence, a composite idea

Emotional quotient brings together a set of qualities such as empathy, self-control, intuition, self-confidence, perseverance and motivation. People with a high EQ are more satisfied with their private lives, more successful in their working lives, and healthier. All other things being equal, people with good emotional skills are more likely to succeed in life. Why? Being conscious of our own emotions and those of others puts us in a better position to adjust our behaviour so as to get what we want and to maintain good, functional relationships.

How can we optimise our emotional skills?

To develop your emotional quotient, you must first learn to identify the emotions you experience throughout the day, whether these are joy, anger or frustration. What reactions from others bother us, and how do we respond to them? Once we’re past this stage, we can do more difficult exercises, for example by leaving our comfort zone so as to get to know a stranger or somebody we don’t get on with.

If carried out day after day, these exercises help us to understand our emotions and those of other people.

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