In the world of work, emotional intelligence ‘EQ’ has been shown to be a stronger indicator of success than IQ. Emotional intelligence can make you more influential as a leader and open doors as a newcomer to an organization. 

In the business world, it is often said that “emotionally intelligent people are successful.” But what does that mean? And why is emotional intelligence so important? This article will explore the benefits of emotional intelligence and reveal why it is such an asset in the workplace and in your personal life.

In fact, emotional intelligence, known as emotional quotient or EQ, is a valuable skill that employees want in their leaders.

So, companies are increasingly hiring emotionally intelligent people to fill key roles – something they have traditionally not done.

Actually, many employers no longer seek “raw intelligence” in both new recruits and existing employees who are trying to move into more senior roles.

They consider emotional intelligence when making promotion decisions.

Think about it. How beneficial is it if you’re super smart but can’t work with anyone else?

Some recruiters even screen out potential employees depending on their emotional intelligence.

This is because emotional intelligence tells us who is likely to get along with others, who is likely to be difficult, impulsive or overly emotional.

So, let’s dive into exactly why emotional intelligence is important.

Benefits of improving emotional intelligence

Here’s the list of benefits of improving EQ in your personal life and in the workplace:

• Physical wellness
• Professional success
• Improves personal relationships
• Emotional well-being
• Personal growth
• Boosts satisfaction at work
• Makes you feel less victimized
• Decreases conflict with others
• Increases leadership skills
• Helps you bounce back from adversity
• Makes people like and respect you
• Boost self-esteem and self-confidence
• Improves sleep
• Boosts motivation and productivity
• Improves problem solving skills
• Makes you a stronger team-player
• Increases your influence on others

1. Emotional intelligence improves physical wellness

Firstly, persons with high emotional intelligence are more capable of handling stress – especially chronic stress, and therefore less likely to be physically sick.

These effects may come from increased resilience, reduced emotional distress, and lower levels of chronic arousal. 

Emotional intelligence matters for your health in other ways too.

Researchers have found that when you’re experiencing a strong emotion, your heart rate and blood pressure rise.

That’s a good thing when you’re in a frightening situation, but chronic stress takes a toll on your body.

When you can’t get your emotions under control, it makes you more prone to all kinds of health problems.

Read also: 7 Physical self-care activities to practice daily

“Where we have strong emotions, we’re liable to fool ourselves.” – Carl Sagan

2. Emotional Intelligence improves professional success

Emotional intelligence skills are equally important at every level of an organization. 

Remarkably, some scholars argue that emotional intelligence counts even more than your  IQ and technical skills in determining who will be a star performer.

3. EQ improves personal relationships

Usually, people high in emotional intelligence make more satisfying partners and friends because they’re better at navigating the social world.

Actually, this is because they know how to make you feel good about yourself, and they know how to help you solve your problems.

4. Emotional Quotient improves emotional well-being

Increasing our EQ will raise our happiness level. Actually, emotional intelligence is most often associated with high levels of happiness and well-being.

Positive emotions such as joy, love and happiness can be beneficial to the brain and the body by stimulating good feelings. 

These positive emotions help you feel better emotionally and physically.

5. EQ improves personal growth

Personal growth is another reason to work on your emotional intelligence.

In fact, emotional intelligences will give you the social skills to get along with others at work, deal constructively with conflict, make better decisions, reduce stress and anger, strengthen relationships and enjoy greater personal health.”

6. Emotional intelligence will increase satisfaction at work

High levels of emotional intelligence can help you get a job and excel in it.

People with high emotional intelligence are better at working with others, solving problems, managing stress and making informed decisions. 

These skills help people to stay motivated and engaged in their work, which is important for overall success.

“What really matters for success, character, happiness and life long achievements is a definite set of emotional skills – your EQ — not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests.”  — Daniel Goleman

7. Emotional quotient will make you feel less victimized

EQ can help you to stay positive and get through difficult times. It also helps you spot negative people who could potentially harm your mental or physical health.

8. EQ decreases conflict with others

High emotional intelligence helps people to understand other people’s points of view, which makes it easier for them avoid arguments and conflict.

When conflicts do occur, people with high EQ know how to resolve them quickly and effectively.

9. Emotional intelligence makes you become a leader

People who have high levels of emotional intelligence often have the qualities that make great leaders. 

They are able to understand their own emotions and those of others, which helps them to communicate better.

When people feel heard, understood and respected, it is easier for them to work together as a team.

Read also: Essential leadership skills for long term success

10. EQ helps you bounce back from adversity

Having high emotional intelligence can give you the resilience you need to deal with difficult situations.

People who have low EQ are more likely to let their emotions impair their judgment or cause them to do something they later regret.

People who have high EQ can make good decisions and know how to recover from negative situations and move forward.

Read also: How to cope with difficult situations

11. Emotional intelligence makes people like and respect you

People with high levels of EQ are more likely to be well liked and respected by their peers.

This is because they know how to communicate, collaborate and empathize with others

12. Emotional intelligence boosts self-esteem and self-confidence

People who have high levels of emotional intelligence tend to be more confident and self-assured.

This is because they are able to relate well with others, which makes it easier for them deal with difficult situations

13. Emotional quotient will improve sleep

Research suggests that people who experience negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and hostility, don’t sleep as well as others who don’t.

People who have high EQs tend to be better able to manage negative feelings and this means they get a good night’s sleep.

Read also: 27 Healthy habits to naturally improve your sleep

14. Emotional intelligence boosts motivation and productivity

People with high EQs know how to manage stress and they don’t let difficult emotions get in the way of achieving their goals.

They are also better able to focus on a task at hand, which makes them more productive.

Read also: Ultimate guide on personal productivity

“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.” — Roger Ebert

15. Emotional intelligence improves problem solving skills

People with high EQs are better able to understand their own feelings and those of others, which enables them to be more empathetic.

This makes it easier for them to resolve problems.

16. Emotional quotient makes you a stronger team player

When people have emotional intelligence, they know how to work well with others, solve conflicts and make informed decisions.

All of these skills make a person a stronger team player.

17. Emotional intelligences helps you influence people

People who have high EQs often know how to motivate and persuade others.

They are also willing to communicate their ideas and opinions, which helps them to stay influential in their workplace or in any other environment they find themselves.

The importance of improving emotional intelligence as a leader

People’s motivations aren’t always apparent to others nor do they necessarily take the form you’d expect.

So, understanding why people do what they do is key in learning how best to work with them.

Emotional intelligence helps people better understand the needs of the organization and how they can contribute to it’s success.

It also helps leaders build trust in the employees, making them more likely to want to go above and beyond for their employers.

This is because emotional intelligence helps you improve your relationships with others through communication, self-awareness and understanding.

“We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave, think, and feel.” — Marshall B. Rosenberg

Read also: Essential leadership qualities for long-term success.

Final words on the importance of emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill for anyone. In fact, it’s not only important to be aware of your own emotions, but also the emotions of those around you.

When you can understand and respond to the emotional states of others, you create an environment where open communication and collaboration are possible.

In order to foster a positive work culture and increase productivity, it’s important to develop your emotional intelligence skills.

What have you found to be the best way to improve your emotional intelligence?

Related topics

How can I improve my emotional intelligence?

Do you often find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your emotions?

Do you lack the ability to understand and manage your feelings effectively? If so, you may benefit from improving your emotional intelligence.

EQ is a vital skill that can help you navigate through life’s challenges and relationships with ease.

Luckily, there are many ways that you can improve your emotional intelligence. In this blog post, I’ll discuss the strategies that will help you boost your EI skills.  Read more

List of emotional self-care activities

Self-care is an important part of maintaining your mental health, and it’s especially important when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed.

Luckily, there are many different self-care activities that you can do, but it can be difficult to know where to start.

That’s why I’ve put together a list of emotional self-care activities for you to try.

So, whether you want to take a relaxing bath, read your favorite book, or go for a walk in nature, these activities will help you recharge and relax.

So go ahead and give them a try. Read more

References

Srivastava K. (2013). Emotional intelligence and organizational effectiveness. Industrial psychiatry journal, 22(2), 97–99