Throughout our education and work lives, we're sometimes given labels based on our performance in certain situations.
Class rankings are commonplace even when we start our educational journeys. The Valedictorian and star athletes are heralded at graduation ceremonies.
Once we get to the workplace, people are sometimes evaluated based solely on their ability to deliver financial results, solve complex business problems, create and update complex spreadsheets, deliver great presentations, or even write a killer AI prompt.
But we all know people who may be able to do those things but are insensitive or clueless when interacting with or leading others.
That's where EQ (or emotional intelligence) comes into play. And it's more important than ever, as you'll learn throughout April as SOS tackles EQ (as opposed to IQ) in work and life.
The term EQ first appeared in the late 1980s and caught on with a book about it in 1995. In recent years, EQ became a topic of conversation again as companies grappled with creating better environments, building stronger leadership teams, and retaining talent. Businesses also may care more now about the mental and physical health of their talent and strive to create cultures and environments that are safe and productive.
Emotional intelligence is just one form of "smarts."
Being bright doesn't just mean getting promoted into the corner office or earning millions.
We all have unique talents and skills.
A Harvard psychologist identified eight different types of intelligence. Although the theory is somewhat controversial, it points to some of our innate (and potentially learned) abilities and why certain types of roles may feel more comfortable for you as an individual.
Credit: Medium, reposted from this article
But whether we're talking about EQ or one of the other intelligence forms, we can all learn new behaviors and skills at any age!
Research on neuroplasticity confirms that the brain can flex to incorporate new data and patterns.
Especially as AI (artificial intelligence) is incorporated into our work and lives, we as humans need to focus on those unique skills that can be applied in various situations.
And remember to focus on those things you DO know. We are all smart in our own way -- even if we didn't give that commencement speech.
Please join us on April 30th at noon PT to learn how to use your EQ to deal with conflict.