How High is Your EQ?
Oxford Dictionary explains IQ (Intelligence Quotient) as a number representing a person’s reasoning ability which is measured using problem-solving tests.
Knowing its meaning, it’s quite evident that a person with high problem solving ability, in other words high IQ is bound to attract higher possibilities of getting hired and climbing up the professional ladder.
But is IQ all you need to be successful?
There’s another interesting word that I came across a few years ago- EQ.
Standing for Emotional Quotient, the dictionary explains — EQ enables us to use feelings to boost and complement our IQ.
In my work experience, I’ve felt an extraordinary boost in myself around my peers with high EQ. For a professional setup, I believe it’s quite important to have high Emotional Quotient attached to your conduct. This clearly reflects in various companies’ interview processes as well.
Today, companies hire professionals not only based on their technical skills but also their general attitude — attitude towards others, situations and themselves.
Many companies also conduct personality tests and plot graphs to understand where you fit into their companies culture as a team player & leader for the very same reason.
4 Simple Ways People With High EQ Excel At Work
1. Keep the Human touch —
There’s something quite special about one’s body language and it starts with their face. Calm, cheerful, genuine — a smile on your face when you enter your workplace, according to me, is one of the key aspects of starting the day positively. Genuinely asking your mates about how their morning has been so far, how their weekend was — might sound pretty minor but it sets a positive vibe to your team’s day.
It just goes to show that you care about your co-workers on a personal level. This is where EQ comes in and makes you an integral part of the team as you bring on positive productivity.
2. Choosing Your Words —
Going beyond your co-worker’s professional side, there lies a persona which when treated with compassion & empathy can bring on a whole new aspect of their productivity. This doesn’t necessarily mean that one must be super energetic and talkative while dealing with others, it just means keeping general patience and compassion in your conversions. Be it a message over chat, during meetings or in person, choosing your words wisely plays such an important part in keeping team’s symphony thus leading to a high EQ within its members.
Especially when it comes to written communication, it can be quite easy to be the least expressive, but choosing your words wisely- both verbal & written are very important to maintain the team decorum.
3. Reaching out, often & enough —
Having high EQ doesn’t mean being a yes man and trying to keep others first. It means keeping others as well as yourself on your priority list. In case of miscommunication, it’s always a good idea to reach out and clarify with the involved person rather than spreading negativity by either bottling it up within yourself or discussing with unrelated people.
First try your best warm instincts to be in the other person’s shoes to understand the situation and if you still have doubts, reach out to them in a comfortable space to close out any gaps amongst yourselves. This not only keeps your own sanity but also feeds it back to the related team member for scope of improvement.
4. Are you Keeping it real? —
Out of all the ways mentioned above, this is probably the most important-
be you.
I personally love this quote “your only job is you”.
So try to just be yourself and not anyone else. You as a person are hired for your qualities and as you grow and pick up new skills within your workplace and learn from your peers, also remember to maintain your individuality. This keeps you emotionally content and your EQ, thus, will definitely shine through.
For a person who thrives and prospers in a uplifting environment, I believe keeping these simple thoughts in mind while treating your colleagues can be extremely helpful in overall productivity and thus velocity of a team.
Keep yourself emotionally content- that could be either by learning something new, listening to music or taking your favourite route to work.
The more content you are from within, the easier your EQ will flow.
The key is in Keeping a balance of the two- EQ and IQ. I advocate there’s no choice between the two, there’s a combination of the two that’ll prosper the workplace.
Hope my analysis alleviates your day and provokes an emotional spark at your workplace.
All images are drawn and copyrighted © by Venus Nautiyal. In order to use any images please acquire prior written permission from the artist.
