IQ has long been considered the key measure of a person's ability. However, studies have shown that having a high IQ is not a good predictor of success in life or in the business world. It is thought that IQ contributes about 20 percent to life success leaving 80 percent attributable to other factors such as emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence includes abilities such as being able to motivate oneself; to persist in the face of difficulties; to control impulsiveness and delay gratification; to regulate one's mood so as to keep emotions from blocking the ability to think; and to be able to empathize and to hope.
There is a cost to the corporate bottom line from low levels of emotional intelligence on the job. The consequences for a work group can be severe if a member or leader keeps exploding in anger, or has no sensitivity to the feelings of others. Emotionally upset people cannot remember, attend, learn, or make decisions clearly.
On the flip side, there are clear benefits to working in a group whose members are skilled in emotional intelligence. They would be attuned to the feelings of others, able to handle disagreements so they do not escalate, and have the ability to get into flow states while working.
