The Epitome of Emotional Intelligence

“Emotional intelligence is the barometer of excellence on virtually any job.” – Daniel Goleman 

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence refers to the propensity to effectively understand and manage not only one’s emotions but also to gauge and influence the emotions of those around.  

Popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman, he saw and emphasized the role of emotional intelligence in business and leadership. Since then, emotional intelligence, or EQ, has become a gold standard for success in work and personal life and a coveted skill employers desire from potential staff.

EQ versus IQ

A study was made involving founders and hiring managers analyzing the weight of intelligence quotient or IQ and EQ at work. This was done to substantiate its value, resulting in a hefty number of participants valuing high EQ more than IQ. 

Role of EQ in leadership

In business, the relevance of emotional intelligence for leaders is quite unambiguous. A leader with low EQ may not be able to assimilate the needs and wants of those they lead, which may have a negative effect on his or her ability to inspire and lead a team.  

For most productive workplaces, differing opinions are a common sight. Nonetheless, diverse perspectives and opinions can be a good indicator that the team is growing and that people are contributing to pushing boundaries as various angles are examined and brought to the table. How to effectively handle this type of situation may depend on each team member’s level of EQ. High EQ individuals can stay calm even in the face of adversity. They don’t act based on their emotions but rather maintain to have thoughtful business decisions. They discuss challenging issues empathetically. They ungrudgingly accept criticism while taking responsibility for their mistakes and learning from them. They model desirable traits, thus influencing others to do the same. And most importantly, they manage and resolve conflict maturely.  

Developing Your Emotional Intelligence

Daniel Goleman further expounds on EQ and outlines it into five components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. He argues that emotionally intelligent people must be both self-aware and social-aware. The need to be self-aware is plain. This is the heart of emotional intelligence. To be self-aware is to be mindful of one’s behaviors and moods that may or may not necessarily affect their attitude, actions, values, and those of others. Furthermore, emotional intelligence is also measured by one’s ability to see the perspective of others and empathize with them regardless of differences. Emotionally intelligent people are also self-managed and self-motivated. 

The emotional intelligence of leaders is a key management tenet. Leaders should be the epitome of emotional intelligence. How to develop emotional intelligence is a question many aspiring leaders ask. Begin by doing a self-evaluation. Assess how you react to tough situations, from your thoughts to your words and your body language. Next, try to be comfortable in communicating your feelings. Finally, learn to listen and empathize with others.  

In navigating through an ever evolving and diverse business world, emotional intelligence has become an indispensable trait for providing diverse business solutions. 

In NKR’s culture, emotional intelligence is a valued skill. Our company culture encourages the leaders and staff alike to develop and practice EQ.

NKR is a Virtual Solutions Company designed to serve as an extension of your company. We operate through two main lines of business: NKR Digital, offering comprehensive Digital Marketing services and NKR Recruit, specialized in Staffing skilled Virtual Professionals (aka “assistants”) to support and scale your operations.

Founded to meet the needs of SMBs, Entrepreneurs and Solopreneurs focused by delivering tailored, cost-effective solutions at every stage of business growth. Our remote business model allows us to offer up to 60% savings compared to traditional local agencies, positioning NKR as a trusted and invaluable resource partner.