China 
In today’s competitive workplace, it’s more important than ever for leaders to have a high degree of emotional intelligence (EI). That’s because EI is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
Leaders with high EI are better able to build relationships, motivate and inspire employees, manage conflict, and make sound decisions. In fact, research has shown that EI is a better predictor of success in leadership roles than IQ.
What is Emotional Intelligence?
EI is made up of four components:
- Self-awareness: This is the ability to understand your own emotions and how they affect you.
- Self-management: This is the ability to control your emotions and stay calm under pressure.
- Social awareness: This is the ability to understand the emotions of others and how they’re feeling.
- Relationship management: This is the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others.
Why Is EI More Important Than IQ for Leaders?
There are a number of reasons why EI is more important than IQ for leaders. Here are a few examples:
- EI helps leaders build relationships. Leaders with high EI are better able to build relationships with their employees, customers, and other stakeholders. This is because they’re able to understand and connect with people on an emotional level.
- EI helps leaders motivate and inspire employees. Leaders with high EI are better able to motivate and inspire their employees. This is because they’re able to understand what motivates their employees and how to tap into their emotions.
- EI helps leaders manage conflict. Leaders with high EI are better able to manage conflict. This is because they’re able to understand the emotions of the people involved in the conflict and how to resolve it in a productive way.
- EI helps leaders make sound decisions. Leaders with high EI are better able to make sound decisions. This is because they’re able to understand the emotional impact of their decisions and how they’ll affect others.
How to Hire for Emotional Intelligence
If you’re an employer, you want to make sure you’re hiring leaders with high EI. Here are a few tips for how to do that:
- Use EI assessments. There are a number of EI assessments available that can help you identify candidates with high EI.
- Look for evidence of EI in the interview. When you’re interviewing candidates, ask questions that will give you insight into their EI. For example, you could ask them how they would handle a conflict with a coworker or how they would motivate a team to achieve a goal.
- Get feedback from references. When you’re getting references for candidates, ask them about the candidate’s EI. For example, you could ask them if the candidate is able to build relationships, motivate others, and manage conflict effectively.
How to Develop Your Own Emotional Intelligence
If you’re a leader, you can develop your own EI by doing the following:
- Practice self-awareness. Take some time each day to reflect on your own emotions and how they’re affecting you.
- Learn to manage your emotions. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by your emotions, take some time to calm down before you say or do anything.
- Practice social awareness. Pay attention to the emotions of others and how they’re feeling.
- Develop your relationship management skills. Learn how to build and maintain positive relationships with others.
The Benefits of Having an Emotionally Intelligent Workplace
There are a number of benefits to having an emotionally intelligent workplace. Here are a few examples:
- Increased employee engagement. Employees who work in emotionally intelligent workplaces are more engaged and productive.
- Improved communication. Communication is more effective in emotionally intelligent workplaces.
- Reduced conflict. Conflict is less common in emotionally intelligent workplaces.
- Increased productivity. Productivity is higher in emotionally intelligent workplaces.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence is a critical skill for leaders in today’s workplace. Leaders who are emotionally intelligent are better able to build relationships, motivate and inspire employees, manage conflict, and make sound decisions. If you’re an employer, it’s important to hire for emotional intelligence and to develop your own EI. By doing so, you can create a more productive and successful workplace.
