The document discusses the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) for career success. It explains that while IQ is important for job performance, EQ helps with social competencies like empathy, managing emotions, and motivation. Developing high EQ involves self-awareness of one's feelings, managing stress, and understanding others. Those with strong EQ make better managers and leaders since they can build cohesive teams, resolve conflicts, and cope with change. The document recommends assessing one's EQ using various tools and working to improve it throughout one's career.

1. Role of EQ for a successful career
-Satya Betai
Success is self defined. A challenging job, a decent package, a higher post. And, the definition is dynamic
too; wanting a work-life balance after marriage. The career options are many today, will grow. Our minds
however, will more often than not, weigh career success on similar factors - those that provide job
satisfaction.
All of us are trying to climb the ladder of success. To accomplish it, dedication and persistence are few
qualities that our parents and gurus have made us aware of. "IQ", a translation from German word
Intelligenz-Quotient is another important factor. It measures intelligence, which is believed to determine
success. Organizations look to hire those with a high IQ. Then, in the 90’s Daniel Goleman introduced the
concept of Emotional Intelligence, a measure of which is EQ - the Emotional Intelligence Quotient.
Emotional Intelligence is one's ability to recognize his/her behaviors, moods and thoughts, and to manage
them in different situations; to shape one's interactions & relationship with others. Note that good
personality does not equate to being emotionally intelligent. One with high EQ can manage his/her
impulses, manage change well, solve problems and remain optimistic when situations are grim.
Two components make up Emotional Intelligence - Personal Competencies and Social Competencies.
Among the personal ones are Self Awareness, Managing emotions and Motivation. And Social
competency boils down to Empathy.
Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, had a guiding rule “Know Thyself". When one tries to follow this
directive, all the negative emotions e.g. fear, unhappiness turn meaningless. In the Emotional Intelligence
domain you can relate it to Self Awareness. You are self-aware when you are getting angry, when your
moods change, when you start thinking like a pessimist and when you know you are down and talking to
your own self will help. So, how do you know you are aware about yourself? By answering these:
Do you recognize your feelings & emotions as they occur?
Are you aware of how others perceive you?
For the second question, if you have ever undergone the 360 degree feedback session, one of the
outputs the process gives you is, your perception about you and others perception about you. The latter
part is where you are likely to get an answer.
Managing emotions is like pushing the right button. If you are aware about a situation that creates
pressure on you, try to relieve the stress. Calm yourself when you are angry, talk to yourself when feeling
depressed. Stay calm when others are annoyed. Easier said than done. Isn't it? But remember, practice
makes a man perfect! Coming to Motivation, theorists like Herzberg and Maslow came up with well known
theories of motivation during their times. Putting in layman's terms, motivation can be defined as: "To
channel emotions in the face of frustration in order to persist, to be productive". You are motivated if you
can revive from a setback, consistently give good output during pressure times, and work with vigor in
less challenging job.
We are in our lives, surrounded by people, in family, at workplace. So, knowing only your own self is not
enough. You need to understand others around you too. This is what Social competency demands. To be
aware of others feelings, concerns. Your Social competency meter will be high when you see & feel that
others are upset, when you have close, friendly conversations with them and help them deal with their
emotions. And above all, stay unruffled when others are unhappy.
If you develop EQ you will be aware that emotions are always present. And you will use your emotions
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2. and react to others emotions in a way that will set you apart from others. It will make you a good manager
for example. Being motivated will improve your productivity, you will be able to work with ease with team
members, increase job satisfaction, improve work-life balance by setting priorities. A low EQ may result
into poor decision making ability, no warm relations/contacts and disrupted situations.
In business, IQ is central. It produces successful strategies. Adding Emotional Intelligence to IQ, make
you a whole person, highly competent. It resolves morale problems; sets up good contacts, and
stimulates best performance in you and in others. It is EQ is why some people advance than others
in-spite of same IQ.
Emotions are intrinsic to us. Everyone has a certain Emotional Intelligence Quotient. To improve upon it,
you should pay attention to the body language, yours and others, listen more, react positively to negative
emotions, acknowledge other's work. If you are a manager, you need to build an emotionally intelligent
team. Let the team know their purpose and importance of achieving it. Encourage team spirit so each one
interworks with harmony, help resolve conflicts, give them the big picture, and make them feel valued. A
good EQ helps with employee retention; a vital attribute for those in HR. Emotional Intelligence is a
means to enhance leadership. It teaches managers to cope up with changes in professional and personal
lives.
Tools are available in market to assess your EQ. EIQ (Dulewicz & Higgs), MSCEIT Mayer, Salovey,
Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, SEI seconds Emotional Intelligence Test and more.
At whichever juncture you are in your career, pick up a tool, know your EQ, improve EQ- know self, know
others. And taste the real success. As defined by you.
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