\u201cIt takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.\u201d So it was that I never took the IQ test; official or otherwise. I still don\u2019t know what my score might be. My insecurities about my intelligence often led to me accepting abusive behavior from others; taking the insult of \u201cWhat are you, an idiot?\u201d too seriously; avoiding intelligent debates with others over the fear that my lack of knowledge would be exposed.<\/p>\n The insecurities took me years to overcome, but I eventually came to terms with them. I wasn\u2019t going to be the smartest person in the room, and that is okay to admit. As long as I listen, absorb, critically think about issues, and research information, I could build up a semblance of intelligence.<\/p>\n A few months ago, while researching for an article, I came across an interesting blurb about \u201cmultiple intelligences.\u201d In the piece, it talked about how IQ (an arbitrary number that we assign to someone\u2019s brainpower) was only a fraction of the picture and far too limited. IQ is a part of our capacity to determine logic and reasoning but is only one way that we think and succeed.<\/p>\n Of course, as we further our understanding of neurotypical and non-neurotypical conditions such as autism, this idea of multiple intelligences isn\u2019t very farfetched. Everyone interprets the world differently, and singling their potential down to a number from an IQ test is a belief entrenched in ableism<\/a> (discrimination against individuals with a disability).<\/p>\n The psychologist that first identified these different forms of intelligence is Howard Gardner<\/a> in his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. He breaks down the eight most common forms of intelligence<\/a> as:<\/p>\n Gardner\u2019s research is something that has gone on to shape our understanding of child development, changing the methods that teachers use to approach educating their students. It has also gone on to be slowly accepted and integrated within business, healthcare, and other professions.<\/p>\n As I continued to read on, I found that interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence are often combined to create emotional intelligence. Further study revealed that emotional intelligence (EI) is extremely important in our everyday life. In fact, EI is considerably more impactful in our lives than our IQ score ever will be.<\/p>\n By honing in on our emotional intelligence we can better ourselves and the world around us. It\u2019s no wonder that the world is in such turmoil these days: emotional responses are disregarded, and \u2018rationality\u2019 is favored. If we can fine-tune our EI, we can ultimately make the world a better place for everyone.<\/p>\n Emotional intelligence shines especially bright within the business realm, but it is something that has only recently been pursued by hiring managers and industry leaders. Luckily, business education programs are recognizing the recent adaptation of EI in business. According to the University of Southern California\u2019s research on emotional intelligence<\/a>, the applications span beyond inter-office communication (although that is key), and into hiring decisions, team motivation, leadership, conflict resolution, and the global marketplace.<\/p>\n \u201cEmotional intelligence is correlated with traits like perseverance, self-control, and performance under pressure. It provides leaders, no matter their skills, with the emotional fortitude to adapt to change and deal with setbacks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The University of Maryland\u2019s Online MBA program also focuses on the importance of emotional intelligence in their curriculum, but zeroes in more on the actual numbers. As the University of Maryland indicates in an infographic<\/a>, a higher EI can result in a 58% positive variation in job performance, whereas IQ can only affect job performance by between 4-25%. Similarly, a study by Joshua Freedman<\/a> found that when businesses place a higher emphasis on emotional intelligence, they may see up to a 34% increase in profits.<\/p>\n The higher appreciation and acceptance for EI could be responsible for the increase of women in business. As USC and other researchers note, women tend to score higher on emotional intelligence tests. This doesn\u2019t mean that women are the only gender capable of achieving a high EI, but it could explain the benefit of including women in the boardroom. By offering up insight from a different viewpoint than that of the standard businessman, women have brought innovation and creativity into many spaces where it is needed.<\/p>\n The large international corporation Alibaba (the \u2018Amazon of China\u2019) has claimed that women in high-level executive positions are their \u201csecret sauce<\/a>\u201d to success. The founder, Jack Ma, noted that the increases in emotional awareness from women and their ability to \u201cbalance the logic and the instinct\u201d have made Alibaba into the e-commerce giant they are today.<\/p>\n Of course, whatever the gender, individuals with heightened EI can usher in much-needed creativity to their workspace. They are more likely to face change, not blame others for mistakes, provide support for those that need it, and challenge the thinking styles of those that are more cognitively minded.<\/p>\n One of the leading questions in research devoted to emotional intelligence is can it be taught?<\/p>\n According to an article in the New York Times<\/a>, the answer is yes. In schools around the country, teachers are beginning to teach social-emotional learning (SEL) based on the idea that \u201cemotional skills are crucial to academic performance.\u201d And research has shown that better performance in school is directly tied to the emotional state of students. Tired and stressed students that have a closed off relationship within their home are less likely to score well on tests or absorb information. Students that communicate effectively at home and with their teachers perform significantly better on tests, and can properly concentrate on their work.<\/p>\n Although SEL was first introduced as a way to combat bullying, school shootings, and suicides; the implementation of SEL goes beyond the classroom and formative years of childhood. According to the NY Times, the intent is \u201cto instill a deep psychological intelligence that will help children regulate their emotions,\u201d and provide them with the foundation to build a strong emotional intelligence.<\/p>\n A British survey released in 2011 from the National Child Development Study<\/a> was able to capture just how vital EI training is in a person\u2019s life. The study followed 17,000 British children over a 50 year period, highlighting that children with a stable emotional upbringing were considerably more likely to succeed into adulthood. With a stronger emphasis on emotions as a child, those same people were more emotionally stable later in life. The study states: \u201ca poorer emotional state in childhood is associated with a worse profile of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in midlife, largely because of its adverse effect on behaviors such as smoking and lack of exercise, which in turn are likely to affect the risks.\u201d<\/p>\n So if emotional intelligence can be taught, and is known to be influential in a child\u2019s learning, the question remains how can it be taught?<\/p>\n The answer to that question is through effective communication practices from parents, teachers, and other adults in the child\u2019s life. Teachers are encouraged to adopt social-emotional learning practices through training and programs, such as RULER<\/a>:<\/p>\n RULER is a teaching program through Yale\u2019s Center for Emotional Intelligence<\/a>; a collaborative organization with the university and Lady Gaga\u2019s Born This Way Foundation. The two began working together not long ago \u2013 in October of 2015 \u2013 so time will tell how well the program pans out in the future for students.<\/p>\n The inspiration behind the collaboration, however, is inspired by a survey of 22,000 high school students who described their current emotional state in school as \u201ctired,\u201d \u201cstressed,\u201d and \u201cbored.\u201d The program is aimed to create an \u201cEmotional Revolution\u201d with teens; advocating for them to be more open about their communication so they can effectively learn social-emotional regulation alongside their normal studies.<\/p>\n Emotional intelligence and relationships go hand in hand. Since emotional intelligence is a combination of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence, it\u2019s obvious that EI can greatly affect personal relationships and dating.<\/p>\n The key lies in perfecting empathetic responses. Empathy is vital for understanding the choices and beliefs of others, and by \u2018placing ourselves in someone else\u2019s shoes<\/a>\u2019 individuals can make themselves more prepared for intense situations, discussions, and be more emotionally open<\/a> with their partners. It can also help prevent others from feeling uncomfortable when shared opinions aren\u2019t the same. Even if you don\u2019t see eye to eye with someone on a subject, by reading body language and regulating our emotions, we can avoid uncomfortable interactions that may lead to a fight or break up.<\/p>\n
\nFyodor Dostoyevsky<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"Importance](\"https:\/\/www.planetofsuccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Importance-of-emotional-intelligence.jpg\")
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence<\/h2>\n
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Emotional Intelligence in Business<\/h3>\n
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Emotional Intelligence in School and Youth<\/h3>\n
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Emotional Intelligence in Relationships<\/h3>\n
The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence<\/h3>\n