Why EQ Will Be So Important For Any Future Leader

Emotional intelligence, sometimes referred to as emotional intelligence quotient or simply EQ, is a critical trait in any true leader. It’s a metric that’s used to measure an individual’s capacity for emotion – much like how an IQ test gauges one’s intelligence. Although there isn’t an official or standardized test to measure the EQ of an individual, those with a high EQ often make the best leaders. HJR Global has helped many leaders develop their emotional intelligence and has some strategies that you can use to develop your team’s EQ for the future.

Primary Components of EQ

According to PsychCentral, emotional intelligence consists of five primary components:

• Self-awareness. Awareness of one’s own emotions is one of the most telling signs of an elevated EQ. This includes the ability to understand the consequences and effects of those feelings. A leader with a high level of self-awareness is often a proactive problem-solver and great role model in the field. Self-awareness is best determined by examining one’s emotional awareness and self-confidence.
• Self-regulation. For many, understanding their emotions is the easy part. The true challenge comes in actively monitoring and controlling these emotions, especially in the workplace. Those who know how to deal with the day-to-day effects of stress and anxiety are far more likely to fit the leadership mold than those who tend to fold under high-pressure situations. Individuals with high EQ often carry a strong sense of self-control, trustworthiness, adaptability and professional flexibility.
• Self-Motivation. The task of motivating employees falls squarely on the shoulders of your company’s team leaders who need to instill a strong sense of morale and motivation into their teams. A leader with high EQ will often show an extreme personal drive, strong levels of commitment and initiative in the workplace.
• Empathy. A true leader’s success is only measured by the achievements of his or her team. As such, it’s critical that all of your future leaders can assess the feelings of their teammates and keep their spirits high. Empathetic leaders are best identified by looking at their orientation to customer service, their willingness to develop the skills of others and their acceptance of cultural diversity.
• Social traits. Often referred to as “people skills,” social traits refer to a person’s ability to work with others on a daily basis. This is especially important in your company’s leaders, as they’re responsible for prioritizing and delegating tasks among their team members, communicating with subordinates and driving long-term productivity. Those with exceptional social skills typically have a lot of influence among their friends, frequently serve as catalysts for change in the community and know how to manage conflict in a way that appeases all parties involved.

Having the ability to manage one’s own mental health is also an important aspect of EQ. The best leader knows how to extend this ability to their peers and teammates, something we emphasize highly at HJR Global.

Improving Your Personal EQ

Now that we have a better idea of the common components of EQ and some tips on recruiting a leader with high emotional intelligence, it’s time to examine some methods for improving your personal EQ from HJR Global. These tips are meant for company owners, supervisors and managers; and they can work wonders for your regular staff, too.

First, it’s important to understand how your EQ impacts different aspects of your life, including:

• Work performance. Some of the most obvious effects of EQ are seen in your own work performance – including your ability to motivate those around you. If you find that you’re consistently missing deadlines or falling short of your quotas, or if these problems frequently occur among your teammates, it might be time to adjust your leadership style and strengthen your EQ.
• Physical health. We’ve talked a lot about EQ and its effect on mental health, but it also concerns your physical health. Those who lack EQ often suffer from high levels of stress and anxiety, both of which can have a significant impact on a person’s overall health and well-being. To ensure you enjoy good health and avoid unexpected sick time, keep your emotional intelligence as sharp as possible at all times.
• Personal and professional relationships. EQ has a significant impact on your personal and professional relationships as well. If you often find that these relations are strained, try taking a look at your emotional intelligence – you might be surprised at what you find.
• Social intelligence. Emotional intelligence even plays a part in determining your immediate circle of friends and your overall social status. Individuals who lack EQ typically find it hard to make new friends and are often unsatisfied with their lifestyles.

Most individuals can benefit from making improvements in these areas even if they’re not struggling directly with emotional intelligence. Those who already have a high EQ should have no problem overcoming such issues. Others might need to bolster their emotional intelligence before they see any real results. Thankfully, EQ is easily improved by working on some key areas, including:

• Self-management. Start by working on your own self-management, self-control and self-regulation. Instilling a strong sense of self-discipline is the first step in building a positive example for others to emulate.
• Social and self-awareness. Next, spend some time refining your social and self-awareness. Social awareness is easily built by reading current news, examining recent events and talking with your friends and family members. It’s a little more challenging to build self-awareness as it often requires significant self-reflection and self-examination.
• Relationship management. Finally, work on strengthening your most valuable relationships, especially those with friends, family members and co-workers. They will appreciate your initiative, and you will find that your overall happiness improves, thus strengthening your emotional intelligence in the process.

As you can see, EQ is one of the most important traits you can look for when trying to determine the future leadership of your company. While it’s a trait that can be built and developed over time, especially in young, proactive and eager workers, some individuals possess a natural and genuine EQ that simply cannot be matched through training and development.

Want to get that training and development that you need so you can become a master of EQ and be a better leader? HJR Global has a special offer that you need to check out right now, which will help you become a better leader in the future and develop your EQ now. For more information, follow this link.

For more information on emotional intelligence, or to find out how HJR Global can help you build the EQ of your team, contact our professionals today.