Emotional Quotient: Measuring Decision Making Ability

Thanks to Paul Cattermole for this insightful interpretation of the impact EI and EQ have on our leadership ability and earning potential! Visit http://www.catt-alyst.com/ to learn more!

Research has shown that high performance in any field is driven by good decision-making. Of course, high performance also requires other attributes such as general intelligence, technical skills, and training or experience. However, what separates sporadic high performance from consistent and sustained high performance is Emotional Intelligence (EI). EI when measured, gives one a score known as one's Emotional Quotient (EQ).

Dr. Daniel Goleman, one of the pioneering researchers on EI, notes the following:

1. CEOs are hired for their intellect and business expertise - and fired for a lack of emotional intelligence.
2. Those with high EQ are 127 times more productive than those with low EQ.
3. The key differentiator between star and average performers is their EQ.

Just think of that remark for a moment. Have you ever been managed by, or lead by, an individual who may be intelligent and skilled, yet "missed the boat" on how to get the best out of the people working for him or her? They did not make good decisions about how to lead or manage, nor were they skilled at building good rapport.

Decision-making has a significant impact on how successful, efficient and effective individuals are on the job. Not surprisingly, this ability is becoming more important for both employers and employees, and the pressure is on to deliver!

Our EQ indicates how well we can sense, understand and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions to facilitate high levels of collaboration and productivity. The higher our EQ, the more we can leverage our awareness of emotions (both ours' and others') for being effective in decision-making and overall performance.

Whether we are aware of it or not, we make decisions based on emotions. Sometimes they are the right decisions to make, sometimes not. Wouldn't it be better for us to be able to make decisions from the head, as well as from the heart? At least then we would have a choice. Well, the good news is, we can - if we use our EI.

EI is categorized into two parts: intrapersonal intelligence (the ability to understand ourselves) and interpersonal intelligence (the ability to understand others), and each can be measured.

Intrapersonal EI includes:
Self-awareness - the ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions and drives, and to understand their effect on others.
Self-regulation - the ability to control or re-direct disruptive impulses and moods and the propensity to suspend judgment and think before acting.

Interpersonal EI includes:
Motivation - a passion to work for reasons that go beyond money and status and a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence.
Social skills - a proficiency in managing relationships and building networks.
Empathy - the ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people.

Want to know more? Get a book to help you discover your EQ HERE.