EQ vs. IQ: Which is More Important For a Leader?

It is more important for a leader to have a higher EQ than IQ.

It is incredibly important for a leader to be able to successfully communicate with their team and work with them to reach their shared vision. To do this, a leader must have great interpersonal skills.

As the owner and operator of my indoor cycling studio, Oh-So Cycle, I have first hand experience when it comes to leading a team of people. In order to be successful, I have to ensure at all times that everyone on the team is working together towards the same exact goal or vision. To do this, I need great interpersonal skills and communication skills, which is why having a high emotional quotient is incredibly important. According to INC,

“EQ (or emotional intelligence) is the heightened awareness of others’ emotions, including your own. This vital trait goes beyond leaders trying to gauge an employee’s mood — it allows leaders to carefully examine business situations and approach them appropriately. Assessing the emotional element of a situation, whether positive or negative, will help you keep employees engaged and enable you to better understand their mindset and behavior.”

Having a high EQ allows the leader to read employees’ emotional strengths and weaknesses, know their own emotional strengths and weaknesses, and be capable of successfully interacting with other people. According to Campbellsville University:

EQ is the strongest predictor of performance; in Bradberry’s studies, 90 percent of top performers are high in EQ and just 20 percent of bottom performers are high in EQ. As far as IQ, people with average IQ scores outperform those with higher IQs a majority of the time. A researcher, Goleman, outlined a five-part model of what constitutes EQ. Each involves a different ability in managing emotion. It includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills, all of which are very important.

The reason why I personally believe having a higher EQ as opposed to a higher IQ is due to the fact that as a leader it is very important to have the ability to connect with your team. One of the most beneficial things I have done as a leader is personally connecting with my Oh-So Cycle team. I believe I have a high EQ which has been incredibly important in both motivating and empowering my team to work together towards our shared goal and vision.