Over the past few years, emotional intelligence (or EQ as it is commonly referred to) has become one of the most popular career development skills. Many employers look at strong EQ as an important quality for workers to have.

Some studies even suggest that having high levels of EQ can be more important than either education or income in determining someone’s success in life.1

There are several reasons why this is the case. For one thing, people with higher EQ tend to succeed in work- not just because they know how to use social tools effectively, but also because they understand other people and what makes them feel good about themselves and others.2

Another reason is that employees who show empathy towards their colleagues are happier working for your company than those who don’t.3

This article will discuss some ways you can develop your own EQ so that it helps you in both your personal and professional lives.

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Disclaimer

The content in this article should not be used as guidance for employment decisions or as a substitute for business analysis and/or legal consultation. The authors do not intend to give legal advice, nor does this article create an employer-employee relationship.

Emotional quotient – what is it?

Your EQ refers to your ability to identify and manage your emotions.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are more likely to enjoy their jobs

Recent studies show that there is a positive correlation between employee job satisfaction and emotional intelligence. As such, employers should look for ways to test employees’ levels of EI as well as promote it.

Many companies now offer online tools or questionnaires to assess your level of emotional intelligence. You can then work on improving it by taking lessons or getting training from others who have the tool already.

In fact, some companies even use it as a basis for hiring new staff. By assessing whether someone has good interpersonal skills and if they relate to other people, they will probably find it easy to get along at work.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are more likely to perform at their best

Recent research indicates that there is a positive link between employees’ levels of emotional intelligence and job satisfaction. As such, employers should consider whether you have an adequate level of EQ as part of your hiring process or ongoing engagement strategies.

Research has shown that people who display higher levels of emotion regulation -- like being able to recognize your own emotions and those of others —are more likely to report feeling satisfied with their jobs.

Furthermore, studies suggest that employee attitudes and motivation can be influenced by how well they perceive managers to understand and manage emotions.

As we know, good leadership depends on effective communication and relationship building, so it makes sense that someone who can regulate his or her own emotions will probably feel happier in the workplace.

And although some experts believe that certain personality traits contribute more to having high emotional intelligence than others, no one truly knows why some people seem to comprehend and control their feelings better than others.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are less likely to be distracted by their work

As mentioned earlier, one of the major factors in job satisfaction is how much you enjoy your position. If you feel like you’re doing your best every day without much reward, then it can become frustratingly repetitive.

This will eventually lead to quitting or looking for another position. The more motivated you are, the longer you’ll stick around at your current employer, which increases your chances of receiving good recommendations and referrals.

People often talk about having a passion or career they love, but what if we were to ask them why they loved their profession?

It may sound cliché, but most people say it because they enjoyed coming into work every morning. They felt rewarded when they gave their all and received praise and acknowledgement for their efforts.

They knew they could show up every day with no promises and still get the same rewards. This creates a sense of confidence and self-worth, which are key components to achieving success.

In addition to this, there is an argument that says happiness at work is related to higher employee productivity and engagement.

When employees are happier at work, they are likely to put forth greater effort and remain committed for longer periods of time. All of these contribute to better workplace performance and quality of life for both you and your organization.

Emotional quotient (EQ) refers to someone’s ability to understand and manage his/her emotions.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are more likely to get the most out of their job

Even if you're not in a leadership position, people will perceive you as someone who leads by example. People will look up to you and want to be like you.

If a coworker finds you engaging and interesting, they'll try to relate to you and what you say to feel better about themselves. If they see you interacting with others and getting things done, they'll try to do the same.

This is particularly important for professionals in their field that are considered leaders. Since everyone's goal is to gain knowledge, learn new skills, and grow professionally, employees can pick up clues from your behavior.

If you make an effort to connect with other individuals, show interest in them, and listen to what they have to say, this will help them trust you and work together towards a common goal.

It will also boost their own self-confidence and morale since they noticed you engaged in similar behaviors and succeeded. This could even inspire them to pursue leadership positions or develop their professional skill sets.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are more likely to get their job done on time

Recent studies show that there is a link between emotional quotient (EQ) or what some call “emotional literacy” and employee productivity. More highly-educated employees are better at recognizing, understanding, and managing their own emotions as well as those of others around them.

This can make it easier for them to keep focused on work, maintain workplace relationships, and satisfy their personal commitments outside of work. In fact, one study determined that having higher levels of EQ was linked to lower turnover — particularly among older workers!

Another finding showed that individuals with higher EQ tended to be happier at work, which helps promote engagement and motivation.

Given how important engagement and motivation are in your organization, investing in emotional skills for your staff can boost job satisfaction and overall performance.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are less likely to burn out

As discussed earlier, emotional quotient (EQ) is your ability to identify and manage your emotions. It also includes how you use emotion for constructive purposes in relationships and work.

A recent study found that employees who reported higher levels of emotional intelligence were actually less likely to experience job burnout than those with lower EQs.

Job burnout happens when someone’s workload increases while their compensation and/or opportunities decrease. They may feel overwhelmed or overworked, which can lead to frustration and depression.

At this stage, some people stop putting effort into their jobs, which creates more work for others. Others may even quit because they can no longer tolerate the stress of working.

This can hurt an organization financially as well as psychologically.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are more likely to get promoted

Recent studies show that people who acknowledge, understand, and manage their emotions also perform better at work and feel happier in their jobs. These individuals are referred to as having “emotional literacy” or “EI.”

People with higher EI perceive situations more objectively and tend to use healthier strategies for coping with stress. They're also more likely to connect with others and develop relationships that last because they know how to respect and appreciate other people.

In fact, research suggests that employees with higher EI are rewarded by being given either a promotion or increased responsibility, while those with lower levels of EI may be asked to leave their position.

Emotions play an important role in workplace success so it makes sense to consider whether your company could benefit from EI training for its workers. However, before investing in such programs, you should do some research to see if there is already one available where you live.

Employees that have high emotional intelligence are more likely to get a pay raise

Recent studies show that people who display higher levels of emotional intelligence are given a higher wage, which makes sense since employers look for these qualities in employees.

Emotional intelligence is also referred to as EQ or empathizing. It’s the ability to understand what other people are feeling and being able to relate to them.

Employers look for people with high EQ because they believe it will help create strong workplace relationships and promote teamwork.

They also think it will motivate staff and inspire them to do their best work.